ST.PETERSBURG, February 14 - RAPSI. The Constitutional Court on Thursday returned for review the case of Eduard Limonov, the leader of The Other Russia unregistered political party, whom the Tverskoy District Court fined in August 2012 for organizing a demonstration.

The Constitutional Court heard Limonov's appeal and the State Duma inquiry regarding the public assembly law.

Last summer, the Tverskoy District magistrate declared Limonov guilty of violating the approved procedure for organizing and holding public assemblies. The judge said that in keeping with recent amendments Limonov had no permission to organize the action.

The district court later upheld the magistrate's ruling.

According to Alexander Averin, a member of Limonov's opposition party The Other Russia, Limonov challenged the clause which reads that rallies, processions and picketing may only be organized by individuals with no outstanding convictions for crimes against constitutional order or against state or public security.

Individuals who have been punished for administrative offenses are also barred from holding these types of events.

Members of A Just Russia and the Communist Party in the State Duma submitted the inquiry about the law's compliance with Russia's Fundamental Law to the Constitutional Court in mid July.

Limonov believes that the clause sets additional responsibility for offense, whereas the law prohibits reconviction for the same crime.

On June 5, 2012, the State Duma adopted a bill increasing fines for violating rally procedures, which the Federation Council approved the following day. The bill was then signed into law by President Vladimir Putin.

The law increased fines by up to 10 times, stipulates compulsory community service for violators and prohibits the wearing of masks during protests. The maximum fine has risen to 300,000 rubles ($9,975, currently) for individuals and 600,000 rubles ($19,950) for public officials.

The law also cracks down on unauthorized rallies by prohibiting any mass events organized under the guise of public gatherings, or so-called "people's promenades," should they cause public unrest.