Mahiliou authorities ban picket against increase of prices

The Mahiliou City Executive Committee didn’t authorize a meeting against the increase of prices, inflation and decrease of the life standards of workers. The official reason for the ban is the failure of teh action organizers to conclude agreements with such state services as poilce, medics and public utilities.

Yury Novikau, the leader of the regional coalition of democratic forces, says that in the application it was stated that the appropriate agreements would have been concluded as soon as the authorities had authorized the action.

“If we come to the police and say that we want to hold a rally, they will ask whether we have an official permission. If we don’t present the permission, they refuse to conclude an agreement. Thus, we get in a vicious circle,”commented the civil activist. The organizers intend to appeal the action ban at court.

Bear in mind that hte action was being prepared by 12 representatives of different political, civil and trade union organization. It was to have taken place on 9 June at the stadium in Chaliuskintsy Street, 64B, the only place that had been determined for the opposition’s actions by the city’s authorities. They intended to gather about 1,000 people and discuss what could be done in the present economic situation.

Human Rights Chronicle