News on the topic: freedom of expression
22.02.2012 Polish MPs denied entry to Belarus
Border guards stamped their passports with “denied entry” without giving any reasons.
20.02.2012 Salihorsk authorities keep banning pickets
Aliaksandr Rymasheuski, chair of Salihorsk district executive committee, has banned three pickets scheduled for 17-19 February, referring to Par. 6 Art. 5 of the Mass Events Code.
20.02.2012 Brest district authorities ban three protests against worsening living standards
The Brest District Executive Committee has rejected three applications from opposition activists for permission to stage demonstrations in local villages in protest against plunging living standards.
16.02.2012 Orsha authorities keep violating Mass Events Code
Orsha town executive committee keeps ignoring the mass events legislation, say local activists of the Fair World United Leftist Party, whose applications to hold four pickets on 18 February were ignored by the authorities.
09.02.2012 German Ombudsman banned entry to Belarus
The Belarusian authorities denied entry to Belarus for Germany’s human rights commissioner Markus Loening. The information was spread by the German MFA.
07.02.2012 18 protests banned in Salihorsk in 2012
Eighteen mass events have been banned by Salihorsk town authorities since the beginning of the year alone, with six more pickets banned on 2 February, local human rights defender Uladzimir Shyla says.
02.02.2012 Salihorsk authorities continue banning street actions
The Salihorsk authorities have recently banned six events organized by the local civil and political activists. The formal reason in all cases is alleged violation of Article 8 of the Law “On Mass Events” - placement of information about the actions on the web before their authorization.
27.01.2012 Mahiliou authorities ban “Fair World” picket
Members of the Mahiliou region branch of the Belarusian Leftist Party “Fair World” intended to hold a picket at 12 a.m. on 28 January in order to protest against the people's pauperization. The picket was to have taken place at the “Khimik” stadium, the only place determined for opposition's actions by a special ruling of the city authorities. However, the authorities refused to authorize the action. The alleged reason is that a mass sportive event will be held at the stadium at the specified time.
26.01.2012 Baranavichy authorities ban anti-pauperization picket
Viktar Tsiapin, Baranavichy leader of the Fair World Leftist Party, has received a reply from local executive authorities saying that the picket he was expected to stage on 28 January had been banned.
26.01.2012 Rahachou activist faces libel charges
Rahachou activist Dzianis Dashkevich has been charged with allegedly libeling head of local district administration Mr. Viktar Banchuk.
23.01.2012 “Ice Age” comes to Salihorsk public life
Salihorsk authorities have banned two more street events – a picket and a meeting scheduled for 21 January and 22 January, respectively.
20.01.2012 Swedish Social Democrat denied entry to Belarus
The Belarusian Embassy to Stockholm has refused to issue a visa to member of the Arbetarepartiet-Socialdemokraterna Party Mr. Lars-Ove Jansson, who was expected to pay a visit to Brest region.
18.01.2012 Minsk authorities ban over 60 pickets in support of Ales Bialiatski
None of over 60 pickets in support of imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski expected to be staged by human rights defenders was authorized by Minsk executive authorities.
18.01.2012 Salihorsk authorities ban pickets
Salihorsk pro-democratic activists will not be able to stage a picket in support of political prisoners and a meeting to discuss the results of the 4th All-Belarusian Assembly, after their applications were rejected by local executive authorities.
16.01.2012 Baranavichy authorities ban picket and meeting
Baranavichy city executive committee has issued two bans on a picket (25 January) and a meeting (19 January) applied for by local pro-democratic activist Mikalai Charnavus.
