News on the topic: freedom of expression
13.01.2012 Brest: court finds nothing wrong with picket bans
The Brest Regional Court confirmed the ruling of the Leninski District Court of Brest concerning the ban of a series of pickets under the slogan “Freedom to Political Prisoners!” by the Brest City Executive Committee in autumn 2011.
28.12.2011 Brest trade union leader appeals picket ban
Brest Leninski District Court has started hearing the complaint lodged by Valiantsin Lazarenkau, local leader of the Free Trade Union of Belarus, against a ban on holding a social picket.
22.12.2011 BPF Slonim leader sues local authorities over picket ban
Ivan Sheha, Slonim leader of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, has lodged a lawsuit against local executive authorities, after he has been repeatedly denied the right to hold pickets in support of imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski between 3 September and 3 December 2011.
15.12.2011 Vitsebsk authorities ban another 19 December action
Activist of the “European Belarus” Uladzislau Varanetski applied to the Chyhunachny District Executive Committee of Minsk for authorization of the picket which he intended to hold in the Culture and Recreation Park of Railway Workers on 19 December. By this action he wanted to draw public attention to the problem of political prisoners, including the situation of Andrei Sannikau, who is serving his prison term in “Vitsba-3” colony and who is denied meetings with his counsel.
14.12.2011 19 December actions banned in Vitsebsk
Vitsebsk-based civil activists intended to hold a rally near the so-called “blue house” on Lenin Street and proceed towards Svaboda Square.
13.12.2011 Brest: Hanna Kanius appeals against picket ban
Brest-based civil activist Hannia Kanius filed an appeal against a picket ban issued by the Brest authorities.
09.12.2011 Baranavichy: 14 pickets banned in turn
The Baranavichy City Executive Committee denied civil activist Ryhor Makarevich in holding a picket in the old city park on 17 December. By means of this action Makarevich wanted to morally support the people who were in a hard economic situation due to the crisis.
08.12.2011 Human rights pickets banned in Homel and Vitsebsk
The Homel City Executive Committee banned human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka from holding a picket on 10 December, Human Rights Day, at one of the central squares of the city.
07.12.2011 Brest authorities ban 10 December rally
The official reason for the ban is that some “mournful event will take place in the park of soldiers-internationalists with participation of a delegation from Nizhniy Novgorod”.
06.12.2011 Brest activists appeal against picket bans
Brest-based civil activists filed with the Brest Region Court an appeal against the refusal of the authorities to authorize pickets in support of political prisoners.
06.12.2011 Human rights pickets banned in Barysau and Maladechna
On 5 December the Barysau human rights defenders Aleh Matskevich and Maryna Statkevich received from the Barysau District Executive Committee a refusal to authorize a picket dated to the 63rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
05.12.2011 Vitsebsk: new official issues first ban
Yury Panfilau, recently appointed the head of the Chyhunachyn District Executive Committee of Vitsebsk, prohibited the local democratic activists to hold a picket dated to an anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
01.12.2011 Navapolatsk: picket banned four times
Members of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union from the “Naftan” plant have received a fourth ban on holding a picket aimed at informing Navapolatsk citizens about the refusal of the plant administration to conclude a collective agreement with the independent trade union.
01.12.2011 Orsha: human rights defenders appeal against picket ban
Orsha-based human rights defenders Vasil Berasneu and Vasil Leuchankau filed appeals with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Vitsebsk Regional Procuracy. They state that their freedom of expression, guaranteed by Article 35 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, was violated by the picket ban issued by the the Orsha City Executive Committee.
30.11.2011 Slonim authorities ban picket in support of Ales Bialiatski
Slonim district executive committee has banned a picket of solidarity with imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski, referring to the absence of authorized locations for holding such events.
