Authorities in the city of Barnaul have ban a toys protest meeting, saying that toys couldn't express their opinions independently.

      The meeting's organizers were going to place about 250 "Kinder Surprise" and "Lego" toy figures at the main square in the city's centre. The toys were to be supplied with small banners expressing protest against election frauds. The official request for the meeting's holding was sent to the administration on February 14. 

      Barnaul officials said that the action couldn't be approved, as toys were considered as propaganda materials but not as independent meeting's participants.

      In spite of the administration's refusal, Barnaul activists still want to hold the action, which is scheduled on February 18. They consider the case of single picquets, when people will be standing near the figures by turn. According to the Russia's federal law, single piquets don't require the authorities' approval.

      It is already the third "toys protest" in Barnaul. The previous actions were unauthorized, so they ended with the public prosecutor's office's warning. Right after that, the activists decided to coordinate the meeting with officials. 

      The "toys rally" repeatedly attracted attention of Barnaul citizens and press, including some foreign newspapers, as The Guardian, which had published an article about these actions and other protest campaigns in Russia. 

Sources: Lenta.ru The Guardian