Homel: public activists demand explanations from the Chamber of Representatives

The public activists of Homel have submitted an official note to the Chamber of Representatives and the Soviet of the Republic of the National Assembly with the request to explain to them the order of passing the applications for holding mass actions.

They have adopted the law On mass actions thats why it is for them to explain it, says Leanid Sudalenka, the chair of Homel city branch of the public association Legal initiative.

According to www.belngo.info, the reason for such appeal is that the court of Tsentralny borough of Homel upheld the decision of Homel Regional Executive Committee to prohibit the commemorative meeting dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster (the organizers intended to hold it on 26 April, the day of the accident).

The judge motivated the court decision with the fact that private individuals cant bear responsibility for public order, medical assistance and cleaning of the territory during mass actions (in their application for the authorization of the meeting the organizers stated that they took such responsibility).

At the same time, the law On mass actions demands from the organizers to specify in their applications for authorization of the actions the persons or organizations that are responsible for all those things. However, in the case the organizers are NGOs they can put this responsibility only on private individuals. The court asserts that private individuals cant take such responsibility. In this case the constitutional right to hold mass actions ceases to exist. Thats why the public activists have applied to the countrys authorities for explanations.