Leanid Svetsik is not allowed to picket on International Day of Solidarity with civil society of Belarus

The official reason for the ban is the absence of service with the public utilities, police and medics. The human rights activist was informed about it in a letter signed by the head of the Čyhunačny District Executive Committee Natalllia Liapioshkina.

Knowing that mass events are regularly banned in Viciebsk due to the refusals of the regional police department and the city polyclinic to enter into the necessary service contracts, Mr. Svetsik in advance asked the district executive committee to order these services to enter into the service contracts.

However, the human rights activist didn't receive any assistance:

"Not only wasn't I assisted – I was even explained the legislation in the wrong way. The response, signed by Natallia Liapioshkina is quite strange. According to it, Article 6 of the Law" On mass events in Belarus" specially mentions Viciebsk, providing for the necessity of service contracts with the public utilities, police and medics. In fact, everything is the other way round: the law states that the holding of mass events in the regions is regulated by the local authorities, and it is ruling No. 881 of Viciebsk City Executive Committee that determines the services with which the service contracts must be concluded."

Thus, there won't be a picket in Viciebsk on August 4. This day was declared as the International Day of Solidarity with civil society of Belarus after August 4, 2011, when the head of the human rights center "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski was arrested in Minsk. He spent almost three years behind bars.

According to Leanid Svetsik, Viciebsk human rights activists have filed applications for holding pickets on the International Day of Solidarity with civil society of Belarus since 2012. Yet none of them has received a positive response.