Mahiliou democrats were not allowed to hold a rally and procession against the Russian airbase

On 2 September it became known that the Mahiliou City Executive Committee didn't authorize a protest event which was to have taken place on 8 September, the Belarusian Military Glory Day.

In their answer the officials of the Mahiliou City Executive Committee explained the reasons for the refusal by the fact that the application, filed by the democrats, didn't correspond to the existing requirements. At first they were to have allegedly conducted agreements with the police and other services which would deal with the serving of the meeting, and only then file an appeal for the rally.

Meanwhile, not all services, including law enforcement ones, enter into service contracts without an appropriate permission of the Mahiliou City Executive Committee. This creates a vicious circle, which results in 100% denials to hold any events.

The head of the Mahiliou regional organization of the United Civil Party Uladzimir Shantsau commented on the situation: “Eight leaders of democratic organizations and parties signed under the collective application for the event. The event was agreed within the limits of the Mahiliou regional coalition of democratic forces, but be faced a denial. It is quite strange, as far as we intended to hold the rally and the procession in the officially authorized place – the “Chemist” stadium on the city outskirts,” says Uladzimir Shantsau.

The politician is indignant at the fact of the existence of the ruling of the Council of Ministers No. 207 of 5 March 2012, in which it is clearly stated that first comes the permission of the executive committee to a mass event, and then – conclusion of service agreements with the organizations which must serve it.

“It seems that the level of qualification of our officials decreases with each upcoming year, which discredits the existing power vertical even more. The ruling of the Council of Ministers which establishes the order for holding mass evens, has been in action for 1.5 years already, but our officials found no time to introduce amendments in accordance with this ruling to the decision of the Mahiliou City Executive Committee,” revolts Uladzimir Shantsau.

The UCP leader points that further steps of the democrats on this occasion will be discussed at the nearest sitting of the coalition. He doesn't deny that a decision to collect signatures will be taken, and also says that an application for holding a rally and a procession will be held to the Mahiliou City Executive Committee.