Salihorsk: Human rights defenders seek abolition of rally restrictions

Salihorsk representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee are preparing a petition to the local Council of Deputies in order to demand the abolition of the mysterious decision by the district executive committee, which banned peaceful assemblies in all the squares and streets of the city.

According to human rights activist Leanid Markhotka, the text of the resolution entitled “On measures to prevent accidents and rule of law during mass events” does not correspond to the international obligations of the Republic of Belarus and human rights standards.

“We have already prepared a detailed analysis of this odious decision by local officials, and they have been using it for more than a decade, banning peaceful assemblies in Salihorsk. In the near future, we hope to get an officially certified copy of the decision. Once we have received it, all the papers will be completed and sent to the Council of Deputies with a demand to abolish the illegal decision of the Salihorsk district executive committee. Also, we will offer the deputies a draft resolution on freedom of assembly in Salihorsk, instead of limiting the rights of citizens,” says Leanid Markhotka.