Three picket banned in Orsha

Orsha authorities have banned three street protests scheduled for July 27, the day of the adoption of the Declaration on State Sovereignty of Belarus. The events were applied for by local activists of the United Civil Party and were expected to be held in three locations, the Heroes Park, near the entrance to the Aronia cafe and in the textile workers’ recreation park. All the three venues are authorized for public events.

However, over the last three years, Orsha executive authorities have not given permission for a single mass event on the initiative opposition activists. All of them were banned on the same ground – absence of service contracts with the police, healthcare department and public utilities. These agencies keep refusing to enter into contracts, referring to a variety of reasons. However, in one of the trials, when activists tried to defend their right to express their opinions, it became clear that neither the police nor the clinic or the municipal utilities was entitled to enter into contracts with individuals. Although this condition is spelled out in the decision of the executive committee of Orsha, which regulates the conduct of mass events.

During the banned events, the organizers were going to promote the values ​​of independence and sovereignty, and to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their effort to preserve the integrity and independence of Ukraine.