Russian lawmakers are on their way to policing motor rallies like political protests

Russia's State Duma has passed the first reading of legislation that would make motor rallies legally the same as public assemblies, and equate the establishment of tent camps to picketing. Only deputies from United Russia, the country's ruling political party, supported the bill. (All other factions in the parliament opposed it.)

Russia's Interior Ministry warns that motor rallies in Russia pose a national security threat, arguing that they can “escalate into riots and mass violations of public order.”

Motor rallies have become an especially salient issue in Russia recently, as hundreds of truckers have blocked and slowed traffic, in coordinated efforts to protest highway tolls.

Under relatively new laws, Russians convicted of participating in multiple unsanctioned public assemblies can be incarcerated for up to five years. Courts recently began handing out prison sentences for this crime.