News on the topic: freedom of expression
04.10.2012 Brest authorities ban a picket for decent work
Brest representatives of the Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry applied to the Brest authorities with the request to authorize a picket by which they intended to mark the World Day for Decent Work.
02.10.2012 Pickets against employment contracts banned across Belarus
The city executive committee of Mahiliou forbade holding a picket in front of the city administration building on 7 October, the World Day for Decent Work.
12.09.2012 Minsk authorities ban another picket
Minsk city executive committee has banned a picket applied for by a civil campaign against lawlessness of courts and prosecuting authorities.
06.09.2012 Uladzimir Tryzunou's father and brother interrogated by unknown persons
On 3 September two people in mufti came to the house of the Mahiliou activist Uladzimir Tryzunou who was absent at the time. They didn't introduce themselves, but started interrogating members of his family.
03.09.2012 Brest: another picket ban left standing
The Brest City Executive Committee prohibited human rights defender Uladzimir Vialichkin, the head of the Brest regional organization of the United Civil Party Uladzimir Vuyek and the head of the Brest regional organization of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) Ihar Maslouski to hold a picket in support of the imprisoned head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatksi and all other political prisoners in Belarus on 4 August.
31.08.2012 Mazyr prosecuting authorities back mass events restrictions
Mazyr human rights defender Uladizmir Tseliapun has received a reply from the district’s Prosecutor’s Office to his statement challenging the legality of mass events restrictions imposed in decision No. 1202 of October 12, 2011 by the district executive authorities.
29.08.2012 Brest court turns down picket ban complaint
Brest Leninski District Court dismissed a complaint lodged by human rights defender Uladzimir Vialichkin after his application for holding on 4 August a picket of solidarity with Ales Bialiatski was rejected by the city’s executive committee.
29.08.2012 Zhodzina pro-dem activists fighting for right to hold pickets
On 27 August, Zhodzina Town Court considered a complaint lodged by local pro-democratic activists Aliaksei and Sviatlana Lapitskis against a ban imposed on holding a picket “Freedom for Ales Bialiatski!”
28.08.2012 Smarhon court upholds ban on picket of solidarity with political prisoners
On 27 August, Judge Alina Kindra of Smarhon District Court dismissed a complaint by local human rights defender Ales Dzerhachou, who appealed a ban on holding a picket of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners imposed by chairman of the district’s executive committee Mechyslau Hoi.
06.08.2012 Human rights defender appeals ruling about mass events
Human rights defender Uladzimir Tseliapun applied to the Mazyr District Court against ruling of the Mazyr District Executive Committee #1202 of 15 September 2011 concerning the holding of mass events. After the adoption of this ruling the local authorities started demanding that organizers of mass events concluded paid service agreements with police, medics and communal utilities and attached them to applications for the authorization of such actions.
03.08.2012 Barysau authorities ban picket in support of Ales Bialiatski
The Barysau District Executive Committee prohibited the local human rights defenders to hold a picket under the slogan “Freedom to Ales Bialiatski!” near one of large departments store of Barysau on 4 August.
02.08.2012 Belarusian Association of Journalists sends urgent appeal to Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression concerning Anton Surapin’s case
The letter signed by the Deputy Chairperson of BAJ Andrei Bastunets has been sent to the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Mr. Frank La Rue on 2 August.
01.08.2012 Zhodzina: human rights defenders remind the authorities about the Constitution and apply to court
On 30 July human rights defender Aliaksei Lapitski registered at the Zhodzna City Executive Committee a new application with questions to the administration which again banned a picket he intended to hold on 4 August to support the imprisoned human rights defender Ales Bialiatski.
01.08.2012 “Citizens of Belarus are deprived of the right to have rights”
This is the conclusion drawn by Mazyr human rights defender Uladzimir Malei from a series of trials concerning the prohibition of pickets in support of the head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski and other political prisoners.
31.07.2012 Authorities ban pickets in support of Bialiatski across Belarus
The executive authorities of a number of towns and cities, including Hrodna, Babruisk, Smarhon and Brest, across the country have banned pickets of solidarity with imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski arranged to demand his release one year after his arrest on 4 August 2011.
