Hrodna: Predictable court ruling

Hrodna Leninski District Court has dismissed appeals by local pro-democratic activists Yury Istomin, Vadzim Saranchukou and Uladzimir Khilmanovich in their lawsuit against the city’s executive committee.

In their complaint, the activists argued that the executive committee had prevented them from staging a sanctioned picket on 25 March by deliberately delaying the issuance of an official decision. Apart from that, they urged the court to reverse local mass events restrictions imposed by the executive committee.

As a result, Judge Zhukouskaya ruled to turn down the appeal, as the activists’ application for holding the picket was only registered with the executive committee on 12 March.

As for the latter issue, the court said that it could not reverse the decision by executive officials, as it is reportedly beyond its authority.