Salihorsk prosecuting authorities ignore illegal restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly

Salihorsk Prosecutor’s Office has ruled not to consider a complaint lodged by local civil activist Uladzimir Shyla, following several months of his fruitless struggle for holding a mass event in the town.

The activist says that local executive officials have repeatedly imposed groundless bans on holding pickets. Moreover, the official replies failed to mention the legal procedure for appealing the bans, in violation of the Public Appeals Code.

“Absurd as it is, the Prosecutor’s Office refused to consider my appeal, since applications for holding pickets are regulated by the Mass Events Code. However, what I appealed was not the bans themselves, but their non-compliance with the Public Appeals Code, as far as official procedures are concerned,” says Uladzimir Shyla.

The activist says he is going to appeal the decision at a superior body.