News on the topic: freedom of expression
08.08.2013 Case of Milavidy festival to be considered by Brest Regional Court
On 8 August social activist Viktar Syrytsa filed an appeal to the Brest Regional Court against the verdict of the Baranavichy City and District Court concerning the Milavidy festival.
08.08.2013 Zhlobin: official events dedicated to Day of Builder instead of a picket
Zhlobin District Executive Committee did not allow to hold two pickets, planned by members of the Belarusian Leftist Party "Fair World" on 9 and 10 August. The denial, signed by the head of the executive committee Henadz Suzdaleu, was recived by the head of the Zhlobin district organization of the “Fair World”, Valery Rybchanka.
07.08.2013 Baranavichy: prosecutor's office is required to discriminated in the case of the Milavidy festival
Baranavichy human rights defenders and social activists are outraged at the biased and hasty decision of Judge Katsiaryna Hruda. On 6 August they filed a collective complaint to the prosecutor's office in the administrative case of Viktar Syrytsa.
02.08.2013 Homel leftists are banned to picket due to... rehearsals of dance ensembles
The bans on mass events in Homel are getting more absurd (if the scale of absurdity can be measured). In particular, representatives of the Belarusian Leftist Party intended to hold a picket on 6 August in the only place, officially determined for such events – the ground near the Culture House of the Association of the Deaf “Vipro”.
02.08.2013 Vitsebsk journalists receive threat letters
The same day Siarhei Serabro and Alena Stsiapanava received analogical letters with the heading “Know, what your tongue can lead you to”. Somebody, who signed as Yauhen Mishakou, criticizes there the information policy of Radio “Liberty” and “BelaPAN” and insults independent journalists. Though no names are mentioned in the letter, the author's intentions are quite clear.
01.08.2013 Baranavichy activists gets fined for “participation” in canceled public event
Katsiaryna Hruda, Judge of the Baranavichy City and District Court, fined the head of the Baranavichy organization of the Belarusian Language Society, activist of the “For Freedom” movement Viktar Syrytsa 2 million rubles.
01.08.2013 Pickets in support of Ales Bialiatski are still banned in Belarus
Human rights activist Siarhei Housha and social activist Viktar Syrytsa received a letter signed by the deputy chairman of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee, Dz. Kastsiukevich. They were informed that the executive committee doesn't permit holding an informational picket on 4 August 2013 in support of the imprisoned human rigths activist Ales Bialiatski, who has spent two years in prison already.
31.07.2013 Vitsebsk authorities ban pickets in support of Ales Bialiatski
Vitsebsk executive authorities banned four pickets of solidarity with the imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski expected to be held by local human rights defenders Pavel Levinau and Leanid Svetsik. The pickets were scheduled for August 4.
29.07.2013 Homel authorities ban march in support of Ales Bialiatski
The march in support of Ales Bialiatski was banned by Homel executive authorities, since the procession route covers an underground passage and the building of the executive committee.
25.07.2013 Picket against Russian military base banned due to pedestrians
The Minsk city executive committee decline the BPF party's application for holding a picket against setting up a Russian military base in Belarus.
25.07.2013 Vitsebsk authorities ban 3 pickets on Independence Day
Vitsebsk pro-democratic activists Khrystafor Zhaliapau and Aliaksei Haurutsikau were going to mark the anniversary of the proclamation of the Declaration of Sovereignty of Belarus with a picket of solidarity with political prisoners. However, the event was banned by Pershamaiski district administration.
19.07.2013 Minsk Regional Court rejects picket ban appeal
The judicial board of Minsk Regional Court upheld Salihorsk district court's decision to ban a rally on Freedom Day applied for by a local pro-democratic activist Uladzimir Shyla.
15.07.2013 Baranavichy court supports ban on Milavidy feast
On 15 July the proceedings on the appeal of an activist of the civic campaign "Tell the Truth!" Viachaslau Bolbat against the actions of the Baranavichy Distrit Executive Committee continued at the Baranavichy City and District Court.
12.07.2013 Baranavichy: trial on the prohibition of Milavidy feast postponed to 15 July
On 12 July the hearings on the appeal of an activist of the civic campaign "Tell the Truth" Viachaslau Bolbat against the bans on the Milavidy fest in the memory of insurgents of 1863, issued by the Baranavichy District Executive Committee on 3 and 20 May, took place at the Baranavichy District and City Court.
12.07.2013 Mahiliou resients require apologies from Lukashenka for threat to "tear off heads"
Eleven residents of Mahiliou expressed dissatisfaction with the facts of advocating violence, rudeness and death threats addressed to state officials, allowed by the head of the state in the live air of the Belarusian TV.
