News on the topic: freedom of expression
11.10.2011 Baranavichy authorities ban picket in support of Yuliya Tymoshenko
The Baranavichy City Executive Committee didn't allow Ryhor Hryk, a member of the United Civil Party and the Movement “For Freedom” to hold a picket in support of the Ukrainian politician Yulia Tymoshenko who has been sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment.
10.10.2011 Actions in support of Ales Bialiatski are still banned in Belarus
On 10 October the Leninski District Court fined human rights defender Viktar Sasonau, who had been detained on 23 august for handing out leaflets with information about the arrest of Ales Bialiatski, chairman of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”. The same day the police held a search at his apartment, confiscated two computer system units, informational and human rights editions and T-shirts with Bialiatski's portraits.
05.10.2011 Brest authorities ban trade-union picket
As, said by Valiantsin Lazarenkau, head of the Brest branch of the Free Trade Union, the picket, planned on 7 October – the World Day of defending the right for decent work, was prohibited by the city executive committee. The reason is that the applicants hadn't concluded agreements with the communal services, police and doctors, as prescribed by the executive committee's decisions.
03.10.2011 Brest authorities ban picket in support of political prisoners
Viktar Chaikouski, Deputy Chair of the civil association of entrepreneurs Perspective, received an answer from the Brest City Executive Committee to his applications for authorizing a number of pickets calling to stop the politically motivated harassment and torture of civil and political activists.
03.10.2011 Lida authorities ban People's Assembly
According to the answer of the Lida authorities to the applicants, the application for holding the People's Assembly didn't conform to requirements of Article 5 of the Law “On mass events” as it didn't indicate who was responsible for securing the public order during the assembly.
30.09.2011 Brest human rights defender appeals rally ban
Brest human rights defender Raman Kisliak has lodged a complaint with the regional executive committee and local prosecutor’s office, appealing the ban imposed on a demonstration against forced disappearances scheduled for 30 September, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.
30.09.2011 Another international observer prevented from entering Belarus
On 30 September, the Belarusian border troops did not allow Ukrainian activist of the International Observation Mission of the Committee of International Control over the Human Rights Situation in Belarus Volodymyr Senko to enter the country.
29.09.2011 Brest authorities ban pickets
Brest city executive committee has banned a series of picket scheduled for 1-5 October by Viktar Chaikouski, deputy chair of the entrepreneurs’ association “Perspektyva”, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.
26.09.2011 Brest city executive committee denied sanction for march against enforced disappearance
Brest city executive committee has denied authorization for holding a march against forcible abductions.
13.09.2011 Baranavichy authorities ban picket in support of political prisoners
As it follows from a letter signed by Dz. Kastsiukevich, Deputy Chair of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee, on 13 September the committee prohibited civil activist Ryhor Hryk from holding a picket in support of political prisoners.
12.09.2011 Vitsebsk: Leanid Svetsik appeals against picket ban
The Chyhunachny District Executive Committee of Vitsebsk didn't permit human rights defender Leanid Svetsik to hold a picket on 22 August. During this action Mr. Svetsik wanted to inform the population about the situation of human rights in the country, including the arrest of Ales Bialiatski.
08.09.2011 Orsha police refuse to guard picket in support of Ales Bialiatski
Human rights defender Vasil Berasneu and Vasil Leuchankau wanted to hold the picket on 16 September, but didn't manage to conclude an agreement with the police. According to the answer they received from the Orsha Town Police Department, all policemen would be busy that day and therefore would be unable to guard the action.
31.08.2011 Barysau police ban free hugs
The youngsters who held the flash-mob Free Hugs were warned about the inadmissibility of such actions.
26.08.2011 Mazyr authorities ban Jewish memorial meeting
Mazyr town executive committee has banned a meeting of remembrance to local Jews who killed themselves during the Nazi occupation in 1941, the BelPAN news agency reports, quoting Yakov Gutman, president of the New York-based International Association of Belarusian Jews.
25.08.2011 Svislach and Biaroza authorities ban pickets of support to Bialiatski
The executive authorities of Svislach (Hrodna region) and Biaroza (Brest region) have banned pickets of support to Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski scheduled for 27 August and 24 August, respectively.
