UN Human Rights Committee rules in favor of For Freedom activist Vital Symonik

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has considered the case of an activist of the Movement For Freedom Vital Symonik and found a violation of his right to disseminate information (Art. 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights).

In July 2006, Vital Symonik, together with activist Andrei Sharenda, was handing out leaflets with an invitation to the meeting on July 27, the anniversary of the proclamation of independence of Belarus. As a result, they were detained. The leaflets were confiscated and the activists were brought to administrative responsibility for disseminating information about a banned rally.

The meeting was initially allowed by the authorities. However, after it was announced that the rally would be attended by Aliaksandr Milinkevich, the mass event was banned. The formal reason for the ban of the rally was the dissemination of information about a mass event before obtaining permission from the local authorities.

According to human rights activist Raman Kisliak, this is another case with findings of violations of the right to disseminate information. The Belarusian authorities have not been able to explain why it was necessary to detain and then administratively punish the activist for distributing leaflets.