Baranavichy: new ruling of the executive committee further complicates conduct of mass events

This is the conclusion made by local human rights defenders and civil society activists after familiarizing with the new ruling of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee of December 29, 2014 № 3778 "On mass events in Baranavichy and Repeal of certain decisions of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee". The new ruling was published in the official newspaper "Nash Krai" February 6, 2015 in the column "advertising".

Social activist Viktar Syrytsa points that each new decision of the executive committee determines a new venue for mass events, located further away from the city center and from the people. The present ruling determined as such a venue the area of the old city park facing Mitskevich Street. This is not quite suitable for mass events: there is no WC, people almost don't walk there. In addition, there are construction works which can present a danger to people's health and lives.

Human rights defender Siarhei Housha draws attention to the fact that the new ruling of the executive committee says nothing about the need to enter into written contrats with the police, polyclinic and public utilities.

“Article 6 of the Law “On Mass Events” of the Republic of Belarus determines that the payment procedure relating to the protection of public order, health care and cleaning of the territory after holding a mass action is determined by the decision of the local executive and administrative body on whose territory the mass event is held. However, Baranavichy City Executive Committee reversed its rulings from June 16, 2009 and October 5, 2009 which determined this order, and the new ruling, of December 29, 2014, says nothing about it,” comments Siarhei Housha.

He adds that Baranavichy human rights defenders and social activists demanded in court, the Executive Committee and at the police department of the Brest Regional Executive Committee that
the requirement for organizers to mass events to enter into service contracts with the police be canceled, as it was done in Brest and many other cities. Human rights defenders are convinced that the use of the law must be the same for the whole country. However, this is not done.

“I am sure that Baranavichy City Executive Committee will continue demanding conclusion of such service contracts and will ban mass events. I am very surprised that this ruling passed legal assessment,” summed up Mr. Housha.

He believes that these bureaucratic defects in the new rulingof the executive committee can be an obstacle to the organization of public events in the city and he will again have to file complaints to get it changed or amended.

Photo: the area of the old park facing Mitskevich Street, defined as the new place for public events in Baranavichy