Baranavičy: trial concerning picket ban scheduled for May 14

The trade union activist Ryhor Hryk received a notice from the Bararanavičy City and District Court that his appeal against the refusal of the executive committee to authorize his picket on May Day would be considered on May 14.

Mr. Hryk considers the picket ban as illegal. According to him, he fulfilled the necessary conditions for holding mass events: he timely applied for the rally to the executive committee and attached to it a written undertaking to clean up after the picket, as well as to form a group of three people for guarding the public order during the event. The applicant concluded the necessary agreement with the city polyclinic for serving the picket, which he intended to hold at a site designated for such events by the executive committee.

The activist believes that the reason for the ban is the intention of the picketers to demand the repeal of Decree No.3 "On prevention of social dependency," which violates the rights of citizens.

Last year, Mr. Hryk managed to prove in court the illegality of banning the picket he had wanted to hold under the slogan “Let's bring the actions of the authorities under public control”. The officials had accused him of radicalism and banned the picket. Later, the court found the ban illegal. Mr. Hryk hopes that this time the court will also make a fair decision.