Vitsebsk pro-dem activists appeal Freedom Day meeting ban

A number of Vitsebsk opposition activists have lodged a complaint with Vitsebsk Regional Court’s board for administrative cases, appealing a decision by Vitsebsk Kastrychnitski District Court to uphold a ban on holding a demonstration and a meeting marking the Freedom Day on 25 March.

Local pro-democratic activists Khrystafor Zhaliapau, Aliaksei Haurutsikau and Yan Dziarzhautsau argue that the ban imposed by deputy chairman of Vitsebsk city executive committee Uladzimir Shloma, as well as the later court decision, were groundless, as the court and executive officials made use of certain irregularities of the Mass Events Code and Vitsebsk city rally restrictions.

The claimants also stress that a similar situation in Minsk was solved in favour of the applicants. However, Vitsebsk executive officials keep preventing local pro-democratic activists from exercising their right to publicly express their political and civil opinion.