News on the topic: freedom of expression
20.11.2013 Biaroza court sides with executive committee in ban on picket against the death penalty
On November 19, Biaroza District Court considered a complaint filed by human rights defenders Tamara Shchapiotkina and Siarhei Rusetsk, as well as civil society activist Tatsiana Tarasevich, to challenge a ban imposed by the district executive committee on a picket against the death penalty scheduled for October 10.
18.11.2013 Hlybokaye activist sues district executive committee over picket ban
Dzmitry Lupach, an activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, is appealing a court ban on the rally of solidarity with political prisoners scheduled for November 23. He believes the ban is illegal and asks the court to admit this and to oblige the executive committee to allow the event.
18.11.2013 Slonim: executive committee consistently denies permission for pickets
Ales Masiuk, an activist from the town of Slonim, Hrodna region, was not allowed to stage another picket scheduled for November 17 in the town park. The picket was expected to support the right of Slonim district residents to freely subscribe to the independent newspaper Hazeta Slonimskaya using the Belarusian post network, as well as to freely buy it at the Belsayuzdruk newsstands. The ban signed by the Acting First Deputy Chairman Uladzislau Hershhoryn was received just four days before the planned event. It explains that on the same day and time the location in Opernaya Street will be occupied by a mass public event entitled “Younger Generation – Ready!” to mark the International Students’ Day.
15.11.2013 Another picket banned in Baranavichy
Baranavichy city executive committee banned a rally under the slogan “They must be stopped”, “Public control for actions of the authorities”. It is said in a letter signed by the deputy chairman of the executive committee Mr. Kastsiukevich received by local trade union activist Ryhor Hryk. The official said that the government would not allow the rally, as the slogan of the claimed mass action violated the requirements of Art. 10 of the Law “On Mass Events in the Republic of Belarus”.
14.11.2013 Biaroza human rights activists fighting for right to stage pickets
Biaroza human rights defenders sent a letter to Chairman of the Brest Regional Executive Committee Kanstantsin Sumar with a request to oblige local authorities to change its decision on the procedures for holding street events in the district.
13.11.2013 UN Human Rights Committee recognizes violation of the rights of Homel oppositionist
The Human Rights Committee of the UN acknowledged that the Belarusian authorities had violated the right of the Chairman of the Homel regional organization of the Belarusian Leftist Party "Fair World" Uladzimir Siakerka to hold a peaceful assembly by banning the December 2007 rally to be held in Homel in disagreement with the abolition of benefits to the entire population of the country.
08.11.2013 Authorities banned a picket calling for repairs of a bridge in Orsha
The Orsha District Executive Committee didn't answer the request of the activists for authorizing the picket. They just demanded that the lattter ones present a service agreement with the police for guarding the action participants visitors.
06.11.2013 Slonim District Court stably sides with the executive committee
Slonim district court considered the appeal of the Slonim activist Ales Masiuk, in which he asked to recognize as illegal and annul the decision of the executive committee to ban the rally in defense of the readers and subscribers of “Hazeta Slonimskaya”.
06.11.2013 Residents of Hlybokaye are deprived of the opportunity to hold mass events
Executive Committee decided to amend its decision on the organization of public events - a place to change their conduct. It was found that, when local activists decided to organize a rally of solidarity with political prisoners. On receipt of their refusal letter , mass actions actually banned indefinitely.
05.11.2013 Hrodna: court “wall” seems impenetrable
Hrodna Regional Court considered the appeal of the human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau, Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Raman Yurhel against the verdict of the Leninski District Court of Hrodna concerning the refusal of the Hrodna City Executive Committee to hold a picket in support of Ales Bialiatski on 4 August. On 23 September the Leninski District Court Judge Zhana Krauchanka, ignoring clear violations on the part of the authorities, ruled that the city executive committee didn't violate the law by its ban on the mass event. The human rights activists disagree with this verdict and seek the justice.
05.11.2013 Homel resident appeals the prohibition of a picket in support of Ales Bialiatski
A resident of Homel Eduard Neliubovich filed to the Tsentralny District Court an appeal against the actions of the Homel City Executive Committee who prohibited him to hold a rally in support of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski. The activist wanted to hold the mass event on 10 November in order to inform the public about the nomination of Ales Bialiatski for Nobel Peace Prize in 2013. The executive committee didn't authorize the picket.
05.11.2013 Hrodna human rights defenders oppose discrimination
Hrodna human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau, Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Raman Yurhel filed to the Leninski District Court of Hrodna another complaint against the ruling of the Hrodna City Executive Committee dated 4 October and signed by its deputy head Alena Ahei, by which they werre prohibited to hold an informational picket on 10 October 2013.
02.11.2013 November opens with a new trial in Zhodzina
From 10 to 12.40 a.m. on November 1 the first hearing concerning the prohibition of a picket in support of Ales Bialiatski and other political prisoners took place at the Zhodzina City Court.
01.11.2013 Printing house “Karandash” refuses to print map of the Uskhodniya cemetery, alleging that Radio “Liberty” is extremist
On the eve of the Ancestor's Commemoration Day, Radio “Liberty” prepared a map of the Uskhodniya cemetery, “Belarusian Necropolis”, indicating 50 graves of prominent Belarusians who dedicated their lives to the Belarusian culture, language and statehood. However, the printing house “Karandash” in Minsk considered its anti-state propaganda and refused to accept the order for its printing.
01.11.2013 Mahiliou human rights defenders continue appealing against the prohibition of the picket in support of Ales Bialiatski
The appropriate appeal against the verdict of the Leninski District Court of Mahiliou, the ruling of the Mahiliou Regional Executive Committee "On Mass Events in Mahiliou" and the letter of the main bureau on the ideology, culture and youth affairs of the Mahiliou Regional Executive Committee, which rejected the appeal against the picket ban, was filed to the judicial board on civil cases of the Mahiliou Regional Court.
