The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

Hrodna city executive officials have banned the holding of a series of pickets in support of retaining Polish-language education at a local secondary school attended by representatives of the city’s Polish minority.

Hrodna Leninski District Court has dismissed appeals by local pro-democratic activists Yury Istomin, Vadzim Saranchukou and Uladzimir Khilmanovich in their lawsuit against the city’s executive committee.

Hrodna city executive committee keeps violating the Mass Events Code by either denying local pro-democratic activists’ rights to stage pickets and meetings or failing to authorize the events in due time.

“We want to inform Babruisk residents that there are no fair elections in Belarus. If the authorities allow us picket at the central market, we will prepare leaflets and will talk to the people,” says one of the action organizers, the head of the Babruisk organization of the United Civil Party Viktar Buzinayeu.

On 3 May Alena Kavalenka, wife of political prisoner Siarhei Kavalenka, and their children Valiantsin and Vika held a picket near "Marco-city" in Lenin Street in Vitsebsk. They stood there for about 20 minutes, holding the poster "Children need the father!".

Another ban on holding two pickets on May Day was received by Orsha activists of the United Leftist Party “Fair World”.

Hrodna activist of the United Civil Party Mrs. Aliaksandra Vasilevich has been reportedly visited by a policeman, who said the girl could face administrative charges in case she took part in the unsanctioned picket marking the 26th anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster scheduled for 26 April.

Vitsebsk activists of the Conservative Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front” will not be able to hold a number of pickets marking the anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, after local activist Yan Dziarzhautsau received an official ban issued by the city’s executive authorities.