News on the topic: freedom of peaceful assembly
28.12.2013 Salihorsk: Ban on Human Rights Day picket appealed to court
Uladzimir Shyla filed a complaint to the district court of Salihorsk against a ban on a rally that was to be held on Human Rights Day.
27.12.2013 Monitoring report on the results of observation of the action “Stop the Tax” held on 20 December 2013 in Minsk
On 20 December 2013, an action against imposition of a tax on the car owners was held in Minsk. The call for this action was carried out through social networks. The organizers didn’t ask for the permission to hold this action. There have been cases of threats from the State Automobile Inspection (DAI) – it warned about imposing fines and evacuation of the vehicles of supposed participants of the action.
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.
18.12.2013 Authorities ban picket to support EuroMaidan
Pickets of solidarity with Ukrainians were banned in several Belarusian towns.
18.12.2013 Brest authorities ban march in support of Ukraine's pro-EU protest
The organizers of the march were local representatives of the United Civil Party, who were going to express their solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their desire to live in the European Union.
17.12.2013 Orsha activists sue district executive committee over banned rally
Judge Alesia Kotava advised the applicants of the banned picket to immediately pay another court fee, so that the complaint could be considered in two separate trials. However, she saw no violated rights to organize a mass event.
16.12.2013 Brest police detain and send to mental hospital guy who staged performance in front of Regional Executive Committee building
Ales Charkashyn was dressed as a "prophet", his hands were tied with chains and doused with red paint. It symbolized the blood of Belarusians. During the performance, the activist urged the authorities to repent for their sins against the people.
16.12.2013 Bykhau district still lacks venues for public events
Chairman of the Bykhau regional branch of the BPF Party, writer Siarhei Antonau, received on December 14 a response to his appeal sent to the district executive committee’s chairman Dzmitry Kaleyeu to request to select places for staging pickets in the town.
16.12.2013 Brest human rights defender proposes to eliminate contradictions of legal acts
Uladzimir Vialichkin, a human rights activist from the city of Brest, visited deputy chairman of the city executive committee, Henadz Barysiuk, and filed a statement to propose to eliminate the contradictions that exist in the authorities’ decision on the procedures for holding public events, as its requirement to enter into an agreement with the police is contrary to a decree of the Council of Ministers.
13.12.2013 Mikalai Ulasevich filed an application for a picket in support of Ukrainian protesters
Activist from the village of Varniany Mikalai Ulasevich has applied to the Astravets District executive Committee, asking to let him hold a picket in Astravets. By this action Mr. Ulasevich intends to express his solidarity with the Ukrainian people in its aspiration to live in the European Union.
13.12.2013 Hrodna Regional Court turns down Ales Masiuk's appeal
On 11 December Hrodna Regional Court turned down the appeal of the social activist Ales Masiuk against a verdict of Slonim District Court. In September 2013, Mr. Masiuk applied to Slonim District Executive Committee asking to authorize a picket, which he intended to hold on 29 Septemmber to defend the right of citizens to subscribe to the independent newspaper “Hazeta Slonimskay
13.12.2013 Illia Dabratvor got fined
On 12 December Viktoryia Shabunia, Judge of the Tsentralny District Court of Minsk, sentenced Illia Dabratvor, an activist of the socilidarity movement "Together" to pay a fine of 8 basic units for holding a picket of solidarity with Kyiv protesters near the Ukrainian Embassy in Minsk.
12.12.2013 Hearings on the case of Slutsk activist to continue on 19 December
The trial of the organizer of the screening of a documentary about Slutsk anti-Bolshevik uprizing Zinaida Tsimoshak will continue on 19 December. She is accused under Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (organization of or participation in an unauthorized mass event).
11.12.2013 One-man picket in support of political prisoners held in Dziarzhynsk
On 8 December Aliaksandr Tarnahurski, an activist of the campaign “Together for Belarus”, held a picket in the center of the town of Dziarzhynsk.
11.12.2013 Human rights defenders congratulate Baranavichy residents on Human Rigths Day
Despite an official ban on the 10 December picket, human rights defenders and social activists held a rally in Baranavicjhy in honor of the 65th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The activists handed out booklets with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as information materials on human rights issues.
