19 December picket banned in Navapolatsk
An activist of the organizing committee
of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Siarhei Malashonak
applied for authorization of a picket on the second anniversary of
crack-down on the peaceful post-election demonstration in Minsk. The
aim of the action was to express the public protest against the
unlawful imprisonment of Belarusian citizens following these events,
including the former presidential candidates.
The Navapolatsk
City Executive Committee prohibited the action. The ban is signed by
the deputy head of the committee Viachaslau Durnou. The official
reason for the refusal to authorize the action is that the stated
place of the picket – the ground near the "Domolux" shop,
did not belong to the "list" of the places where it was
allowed to hold mass events.
As found by applicants for
another picket (dedicated to the Human Rights Day, 10 December)
this "list" consists only of one place – the ground at
the entrance of the Navapolatsk Culture Park, unfrequented in winter.
The matter is that the other place, which earlier belonged to the
list of the "allowed"places was secretly excluded from the
"list" by amendments, adopted by the city authorities
almost a year ago.
