Brest authorities ban 9 UCP pickets

Brest activists of the United Civil Party submitted 9 applications to the city executive committee asking for permission to stage 9 pickets across the city on 19 December. However, all of them were dismissed, says local UCP leader Uladzimir Vuyek.

"The reasons for disallowing the bids are different: in particular, the fact that we indicated the areas not covered by the city administration’s decision on holding of mass events. But we were not allowed staging a picket in a location set aside for such events by the authorities. For example, this applies to the stadium "Lakamatyu": Acting Deputy Chairman of the executive committee Uladzimir Charnou stresses in his response that, since the mass event is expected to be staged without the participation of the government, its organizers should attach to their application contracts with the agencies of internal affairs, health and utility services. In addition, the response suggests that the payment under these contracts must be made no later than one day prior to the event," says Uladzimir Vuyek.

It is the absence of such agreements and paying for them that allowed Brest city executive committee to ban the scheduled pickets. However, Uladzimir Vuyek confirmed his intention to appeal the decision by the local authorities.