MOSCOW -- Organizers of Russia's Strategy 31 opposition movement have invited Duma members to their unsanctioned protest on July 31 in Moscow, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.
Organizers said on July 28 that they hoped the presence of government representatives would protect them from a massive police crackdown.
Two leaders of the movement, opposition Other Russia founder Eduard Limonov and Left Front head Konstantin Kosyakin, had earlier decided to stop inviting politicians to join the protests.
While Strategy 31 has never been granted permission by the authorities to hold its rallies, it has still staged protests the past two years on the 31st day of every month that has that many days.
Demonstrators say their protests are in support of Article 31 of the Russian Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of assembly.