Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday Jan 04,2014 reversed a blanket ban on protests at the Sochi Winter Olympics, bowing to pressure from the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Russia had initially banned any political protests in Sochi during the February Games as part of a tough security crackdown ostensibly aimed at preventing attacks by Islamist militants.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree saying that demonstrations, pickets and marches "can be held" but that their locations and routes must be agreed with officials in the Black Sea resort city along with regional police and security forces.
The amended decree, published on the Kremlin's website, also allows officials to set limits on how many people can take part in protests during the Games, which run from February 7 to 23 ,2014
Russia's powerful security force, the FSB, drafted the amendment, which it said would comply with the Olympic Charter while allowing the authorities to "effectively manage potential protest actions".
IOC President Thomas Bach said in December that the Russian organisers had agreed to allow a "protest zone" at the games after discussions with the committee
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