105_55 substantive_scope 55. The applicant party argued that the CDPP gatherings had the purpose of furthering its political agenda in respect of the government's initiative to make the study of Russian compulsory in schools. According to the applicant party, it did not have any access to the mass media and no debates were held in Parliament due to the absolute majority of the Communist Party. In such circumstances the only way open to it to express its views and to criticise the government's policy was to organise gatherings in Great National Assembly Square.