Baranavichy officials ban rally against intimidation of entrepreneurs

The ban is signed by the deputy chairman of the executive committee Dzmitry Kastsiukevich. The official argues that the application failed to specify whether any vehicles would be used during the picket. In addition, the bid reportedly failed to mention specific measures to ensure public order, health care and clean-up after the event.

According to one of the applicants, local entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus, the activists did not sign agreements with the hospital and communal services, while the police, according to a decision of the Council of Ministers, should be contacted by the city authorities.

Mikalai Charnavus notes that, given the small number of picketers - 5 people, the applicants have given a written undertaking to bring a first aid kit, as well as to clean the territory, if there was a need for this. Therefore, the entrepreneur says that the reasons for the ban are farfetched. He is sure that even if there was a signed agreement, the city authorities would have invented something else. This is evidenced by the fact that over the past six years public gatherings in Baranavichy have been by local officials.

The picket was expected to highlight the intimidation of entrepreneurs and confiscation of the goods on trumped-up reasons.