News on the topic: freedom of peaceful assembly
04.02.2014 BATE fan: “At the police station I was shown a photo and told that I was in it”
One of the fans BATE anonymously told Radio “Liberty” how the police were persecuting Barysau fans of the football club BATE for holding an action of solidarity with the Ukrainian protesters.
03.02.2014 Electoral picket of Maryna Khomich attacked by people in mufti
Unidentified people hinder the picket of the speaker of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, leader of the organizing committee of the public association “Young Christian Democracy” Maryna Khomich.
03.02.2014 Food Not Bombs – Bone in Police's Throat
On the eve of the World Hockey Championship in 2014, which will be held in Minsk , the authorities are trying to suppress any grassroots initiatives and clean the streets from anyone who spoils the "image" of a prosperous and socially oriented state.
03.02.2014 Policeman threatens to pinion participants of BCD rally and take them to woods
The incident took place on Sunday near Belarus supermarket, where a member of Zavadski district’s electoral commission Volha Kryzhanouskaja together with policemen (the surname of one of them was Bobryk) demanded to stop a rally collecting signatures for nominating a candidate for municipal elections from the party Belarusian Christian Democracy.
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.
03.02.2014 Homel police demand that white-red-white flag be removed from electoral picket
On 1 February the civil campaign "Tell the Truth!" held a picket to collect signatures for nomination of its activists as candidates. All in all, “Tell the Truth!” in Homel supports 23 people who intend to run for the city and the regional councils. The picket was helded opposite the train station. The activists used the logos of “Tell the Truth!” “People's Referendum” and a white-red-white flag.
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.
