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
