News on the topic: freedom of expression
03.02.2014 Homel: Uladzimir Siakerka tries to find out whether the rally of pro-government communists and BRYU was permitted by the local authorities
February 2 Chairman of the Homel regional branch of the Belarusian Leftist Party "Fair World" Uladzimir Siakerka sent electronic appeal to Chairman of Homel City Executive Committee Piatro Kirychenka. Mr. Siakerka was outraged at receiving no response from the executive committee to his appeal of November 21, 2013, which is a violation of the law "On Appeals of Citizens and Legal Entities". The politician demands to be given an answer according to the law.
30.01.2014 Baranavichy activists suggest amending mass events restrictions
A number of human rights defenders and civil society activists of Baranavichy (Siarhei Housha, Viktar Syrytsa, Viachaslau Bolbat, Viktar Meziak, Mikalai Charnavus, Ryhor Hryk and Anzhalika Kambalava) sent a petition to the newly appointed Chairman of the city executive committee Yury Hramakouski to propose certain steps aimed at the democratization of local restrictions on holding mass events.
29.01.2014 Vitsebsk officials ban Constitution Day rally
An event applied for by Vitsebsk opposition activists Khrystafor Zhaliapau and Aliaksei Haurutsikau was scheduled for March 15. It was expected to highlight the rights enshrined in the Constitution of Belarus. However, their request submitted to the Pershamaiski district administration was rejected.
29.01.2014 Baranavichy trade union activist keeps appealing picket ban
A trade union activist Ryhor Hryk filed yesterday a complaint to Baranavichy Inter-District Prosecutor's Office to challenge the illegal actions of the city’s executive authorities who banned a rally under the slogan “Civilian Control for Actions of the Authorities and the Laws of Belarus”. The picket was expected to be staged on January 26. The activist stresses he met all the requirements of the law on mass events.
28.01.2014 Baranavichy authorities resist public scrutiny
Baranavichy city executive committee banned a rally under the slogan of “Civilian Control for Actions of the Authorities and the Laws of Belarus”. The picket was expected to be staged on January 26 by local trade union activist Ryhor Hryk.
24.01.2014 Vaukavysk authorities ban picket of solidarity with Ukrainian Maidan protesters
Vital Huliak, an activist from the town of Vaukavysk, Hrodna region, was not allowed to stage a picket in solidarity with the Ukrainian Maidan protest scheduled for January 25. The application for holding a picket in the town park (officially authorized location for street events) was filed on January 9. The official response is dated January 17.
24.01.2014 UN Human Rights Committee to consider complaint against ban on picket in support of Ales Bialiatski
A letter received on January 23 by the former chair of Homel City Executive Committee Sviatlana Haldade says the UN Human Rights Committee has registered the complaint, which she, together with Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka, filed in connection with a ban on a rally in support of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski expected to be staged on August 4, 2012.
21.01.2014 Mahiliou authorities ban picket over lack of cleaners
A picket expected to protest the introduction of new taxes was banned by the executive officials of Mahiliou, after local utility service refused to clean up the area.
20.01.2014 Hrodna Regional Court confirms picket ban
On January 20, Hrodna Regional Court considered an appeal lodged by local human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau, Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Raman Yurhel to challenge a decision of Leninski District Court. The latter recognized legality of the executive committee’s refusal to hold a picket to inform about the situation with the death penalty in Belarus on October 10, 2013.
15.01.2014 Chair of the Brest Regional Court upholds the picket ban
Chairperson of the Brest Regional Court Tamara Suchok did not satisfy the lawsuit of Biaroza human rigths defenders against the ban on the picket they intended to hold on August 4 to support political prisoners, and left the prior verdict of the Biaroza District Court and the panel of judges of the Brest Regional Court unchanged.
14.01.2014 Long break in trial in Astravets
January 13 held another hearing on the complaint of a civil society activist Mikalai Vlasevich against the actions of Astravets District Executive Committee, who didn't to allow him to hold a picket on December 7, 2013 under the slogan "Let's bring the corrupt to justice!" took place in Astravets.
13.01.2014 Picket against police violence banned in Vitsebsk
January 12 such an action was to have been held by the well-known psychiatrist Ihar Pastnou. He believes that the issue of the people prone to violence and sadism working in the police is very relevant today. However, his bid for the picket was dismissed by the Vitsebsk Kastrychnitski District Executive Committee.
10.01.2014 Kasia Kamotskaya's live performance banned in Minsk
The situation with the concert of the well-known Belarusian rock singer Kasia Kamotskaya in Minsk remains unknown the day before the show, the website tuzin.fm reports.
10.01.2014 Brest Regional Court upholds picket ban
The panel of judges on civil cases of the Brest Regional Civil Court upheld the decision of the Biaroza District Court, which upheld the picket ban, issued to human rights defenders Siarhei Rusetski and Tamara Shchapiotkina by the local authorities.
22.12.2013 Babruisk authorities ban picket of solidarity with Ukrainian pro-EU protesters
Viktar Buzinayeu, leader of the United Civil Party’s Babruisk office, received a response from the city executive committee signed by the deputy chairman Aliaksandr Markachou. The paper says that the march and rally that activists wanted to stage on December 21 in solidarity with the Ukrainians were not allowed.
