Oppositionists went to law against city executive committee

Pro-democracy activists from Homel demand to declare illegitimate the decision of the city executive committee to ban a meeting dedicated to the 23th anniversary of Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster.

On May 25 Arkadzy Kaluhin, a judge of the Central court of Homel, postponed consideration of the suit proceedings in the action of pro-democracy activists Uladzimir Katsora and Uladzimir Syakerka against city executive committee concerning illegal banning the rally dedicated to the Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster anniversary, Radio Svaboda informs.

The judge announced that the reason was absence of applicant Syakerka.

Uladzimir Syakerka handed over a statement asking the court to try the case in his absence as “he knows in advance that the court would take unjust decision”.

The judge bring into challenge that the statement belonged to the activist, saying the signature hadn’t been

legalized in a proper way. The hearing of the case was postponed till May 28.

Arkadzy Kaluhin seemed to be shocked by the statement, as he didn’t even announce the composition of court.

As applicants say, the ban for mass rallies limits their rights and interests, which are defended by the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and international commitments of the country.

Over the three years the authorities haven’t authorized a single mass oppositional rally. On the other hand, the regime persecutes activists, when they hold rallies without permission. The example of that is persecution of Homel oppositionists for a rally in memory of the disappeared general Yury Zakharanka on May 7. The international community believes that people from Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s retinue are involved in this disappearance and possibly assassination.