Brest Regional Court upholds picket ban

The panel of judges on civil cases of the Brest Regional Civil Court upheld the decision of the Biaroza District Court, which upheld the picket ban, issued to human rights defenders Siarhei Rusetski and Tamara Shchapiotkina by the local authorities.

The activists intended to hold their actions on October 10, the World Day Against the Death Penalty. The reason for the ban was a failure was their failure to present service contracts with the police, medics and public utilities together their bid for the picket.

Both the Biaroza District Court and the panel of judges of the Brest Regional Court referred to the legislation under which contracts with the police, medics and community services must be concluded prior to mass events for the safety of citizens. However, according to Tamara Shchapiotkina, it is virtually impossible to enter into such contracts.

According to Siarhei Rusetski (pictured), it is interesting that the judges finally paid attention to the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political affairs, which guarantees freedom of assembly, although predictably concluded that the ban on the picket does not contradict international standards, as well as the provisions of the national law which govern the judges when making decisions.

The verdict of the Brest Regional Court decision will be appealed to the Supreme Court.