News on the topic: freedom of expression
14.05.2012 Pickets "For fair elections without Lukashenka" are banned all over Belarus
The appropriate campaign was launched by the United Civil Party. Such pickets were banned in Babruisk, Barysau, Brest and Mahiliou. The organizers wanted to hold the actions in busy places in order to attract the attention of the population. However, they were usually answered that the pickets could be held only in the places that had been officially determined for such actions.
11.05.2012 Baranavichy activist complains to Lukashenka about prosecutors
On 11 May civil activist Ryhor Hryk (in the photo) addressed A. Lukashenka with a complaint about actions of the Prosecutor General, the prosecutor of Baranavichy and the prosecutor of the Brest region.
02.05.2012 Mikashevichy: community work day instead of banned 1 May demonstration
The head of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union Mikalai Zimin and the head of the independent trade union at "Granite" factory Aleh Stakhayevich applied to the Mikashevichy authorities for the authorization of 1 May demonstration in the city. Predictably enough, the application was rejected.
30.04.2012 Orsha authorities ban pickets again
Another ban on holding two pickets on May Day was received by Orsha activists of the United Leftist Party “Fair World”.
27.04.2012 Vitsebsk Regional Court turns down appeal against Freedom Day rally ban
On 26 April, the board of Vitsebsk regional Court dismissed a complaint lodged by local pro-democratic activists Khrystafor Zhaliapau, Aliaksei Haurutsikau and Yan Dziarzhautsau against an earlier ban on holding a rally and a meeting on Freedom Day (25 March) imposed by deputy chair of the city’s executive committee Uladzimir Shloma.
27.04.2012 Authorities ban May Day meetings
Minsk city executive committee has not sanctioned an opposition meeting on 1 May, says Valery Ukhnaliou, deputy chairman of the United Leftist Party “Fair World”.
23.04.2012 Vitsebsk authorities ban three Chernobyl-related pickets
Vitsebsk activists of the Conservative Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front” will not be able to hold a number of pickets marking the anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, after local activist Yan Dziarzhautsau received an official ban issued by the city’s executive authorities.
19.04.2012 Vitsebsk authorities ban pickets
Yan Dziarzhautsau, Vitsebsk activist of the Conservative Christina Party “Belarusian Popular Front”, will not be able to stage three pickets, after his applications were dismissed by the administrations of the city’s three districts.
18.04.2012 Brest court upholds picket ban
Brest Leninski District Court has upheld a ban on a picket applied for by local human rights defender Uladzimir Vialichkin.
17.04.2012 UN Human Rights Committee registers complaint by Homel activist
The UN Human Rights Committee has registered a complaint submitted by Homel civil activist Mrs. Zinaida Shumilina, contesting a number of bans on holding pickets in support of former presidential candidates and their families.
17.04.2012 Salihorsk prosecuting authorities ignore illegal restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly
Salihorsk Prosecutor’s Office has ruled not to consider a complaint lodged by local civil activist Uladzimir Shyla, following several months of his fruitless struggle for holding a mass event in the town.
17.04.2012 Hrodna opposition activists sue local executive officials over Freedom Day meeting ban
Hrodna civil activists Yury Istomin, Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Vadzim Saranchukou have lodged a lawsuit with Leninski District Court against a ban on holding a meeting marking the Freedom Day issued by the city’s executive committee on 19 March.
17.04.2012 Vitsebsk pro-dem activists appeal Freedom Day meeting ban
A number of Vitsebsk opposition activists have lodged a complaint with Vitsebsk Regional Court’s board for administrative cases, appealing a decision by Vitsebsk Kastrychnitski District Court to uphold a ban on holding a demonstration and a meeting marking the Freedom Day on 25 March.
11.04.2012 Slonim authorities ban another anti-nuclear picket
Slonim District Executive Committee prohibited the local democratic activists to hold a picket against the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus. The official reason is that the application was filled in the wrong way. The organizers intended to hold the action on 26 April, an anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl NPP.
10.04.2012 Baranavichy: fifth picket ban this year
On 9 April civil activist Ryhor Hryk received a letter signed by the Deputy Head of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee Dz. Kastsiukevich. There it is stated, that Baranavichy CEC, being guided by the Law of the Republic of Belarus of 12 December 1997 No. 114-3 "About Mass Events" (in the edition No. 308-3 of 11 August 2011) prohibited the activist to hold a picket in the old city park on 15 April.
