Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has vetoed a recently passed bill which restricted antigovernment demonstrations.
In an open letter to the two chambers of parliament, Medvedev said he would not sign the bill into law because it contradicted the right to freedom of assembly, which is guaranteed by the constitution.
The bill, passed in October, notably prohibited anyone who had previously been convicted of organizing an illegal mass rally from seeking permission to stage a demonstration.
compiled from agency reports