Baranavičy: organizer of authorized picket for free and democratic elections refuses to hold it in desolate place

Baranavičy civil society activist Ryhor Hryk refused to hold his picket for free and democratic elections without forcing and rigging, which he intended to hold on October 4 and which was allowed by the city authorities.

Mr. Hryk intended to remind the citizens that nobody had the right to force them to vote early, because such actions were illegal and violated the fundamental law of the country and the Electoral Code. The picketers wanted to urge the people not to vote early, before the election day, October 11.

“I wrote a statement to the Baranavičy City Executive Committee that I refused from holding the event, as I was allowed to do it only in the old park, on the side of Mickievič Street, where there are actually no people. There is no toilet there, either. Such pro-government organizations as “Belaja Ruś” and Belarusian Republican youth Union (BRSM) have never held any events there, whereas representatives of independent NGOs are proposed to do it,” commented Ryhor Hryk.

In his statement he asks the executive committee to again designate the new park on the side of Kamsamoĺskaja Street as the permanent site for mass events.

In the photo: the old park in Baranavičy, whose territory was designated as the permanent site for mass events in the city.

"Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections"