In a setback for opposition protesters, the Russian parliament Friday approved a bill further restricting anti-government demonstrations dpa reported
The State Duma bill prohibits anyone who previously had been convicted of organising an illegal mass rally from seeking permission to stage a demonstration, the Interfax agency reported.
The State Duma is dominated by pro-Kremlin parties, with the third reading of the new change in the law governing demonstrations a further setback for government critics.
Human rights activists charge that as with his predecessor Vladimir Putin, President Dmitry Medvedev is tightening the screws on opposition opinion.
There had been a slight ray of hope earlier in the week when the government agreed for the first time in a long while to permit opponents to stage a rally at the Triumphal Square at the end of the month. But the government set a limit of 200 participants.
An opposition petitition seeking permission for 1,500 participants was rejected by the government as a "provocation.