News on the topic: freedom of expression
09.02.2012 German Ombudsman banned entry to Belarus
The Belarusian authorities denied entry to Belarus for Germany’s human rights commissioner Markus Loening. The information was spread by the German MFA.
07.02.2012 18 protests banned in Salihorsk in 2012
Eighteen mass events have been banned by Salihorsk town authorities since the beginning of the year alone, with six more pickets banned on 2 February, local human rights defender Uladzimir Shyla says.
02.02.2012 Salihorsk authorities continue banning street actions
The Salihorsk authorities have recently banned six events organized by the local civil and political activists. The formal reason in all cases is alleged violation of Article 8 of the Law “On Mass Events” - placement of information about the actions on the web before their authorization.
27.01.2012 Mahiliou authorities ban “Fair World” picket
Members of the Mahiliou region branch of the Belarusian Leftist Party “Fair World” intended to hold a picket at 12 a.m. on 28 January in order to protest against the people's pauperization. The picket was to have taken place at the “Khimik” stadium, the only place determined for opposition's actions by a special ruling of the city authorities. However, the authorities refused to authorize the action. The alleged reason is that a mass sportive event will be held at the stadium at the specified time.
26.01.2012 Baranavichy authorities ban anti-pauperization picket
Viktar Tsiapin, Baranavichy leader of the Fair World Leftist Party, has received a reply from local executive authorities saying that the picket he was expected to stage on 28 January had been banned.
26.01.2012 Rahachou activist faces libel charges
Rahachou activist Dzianis Dashkevich has been charged with allegedly libeling head of local district administration Mr. Viktar Banchuk.
23.01.2012 “Ice Age” comes to Salihorsk public life
Salihorsk authorities have banned two more street events – a picket and a meeting scheduled for 21 January and 22 January, respectively.
20.01.2012 Swedish Social Democrat denied entry to Belarus
The Belarusian Embassy to Stockholm has refused to issue a visa to member of the Arbetarepartiet-Socialdemokraterna Party Mr. Lars-Ove Jansson, who was expected to pay a visit to Brest region.
18.01.2012 Minsk authorities ban over 60 pickets in support of Ales Bialiatski
None of over 60 pickets in support of imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski expected to be staged by human rights defenders was authorized by Minsk executive authorities.
18.01.2012 Salihorsk authorities ban pickets
Salihorsk pro-democratic activists will not be able to stage a picket in support of political prisoners and a meeting to discuss the results of the 4th All-Belarusian Assembly, after their applications were rejected by local executive authorities.
16.01.2012 Baranavichy authorities ban picket and meeting
Baranavichy city executive committee has issued two bans on a picket (25 January) and a meeting (19 January) applied for by local pro-democratic activist Mikalai Charnavus.
13.01.2012 Brest: court finds nothing wrong with picket bans
The Brest Regional Court confirmed the ruling of the Leninski District Court of Brest concerning the ban of a series of pickets under the slogan “Freedom to Political Prisoners!” by the Brest City Executive Committee in autumn 2011.
28.12.2011 Brest trade union leader appeals picket ban
Brest Leninski District Court has started hearing the complaint lodged by Valiantsin Lazarenkau, local leader of the Free Trade Union of Belarus, against a ban on holding a social picket.
22.12.2011 BPF Slonim leader sues local authorities over picket ban
Ivan Sheha, Slonim leader of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, has lodged a lawsuit against local executive authorities, after he has been repeatedly denied the right to hold pickets in support of imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski between 3 September and 3 December 2011.
15.12.2011 Vitsebsk authorities ban another 19 December action
Activist of the “European Belarus” Uladzislau Varanetski applied to the Chyhunachny District Executive Committee of Minsk for authorization of the picket which he intended to hold in the Culture and Recreation Park of Railway Workers on 19 December. By this action he wanted to draw public attention to the problem of political prisoners, including the situation of Andrei Sannikau, who is serving his prison term in “Vitsba-3” colony and who is denied meetings with his counsel.
