News on the topic: freedom of peaceful assembly
01.10.2013 Anti-corruption picket in Baranavichy
A picket against the corruption among the local officials was held in Baranavichy on 30 September by social activist Mikalai Charnavus who held a poster “You catch Ural crooks, whereas our own ones rest at the Canaries".
30.09.2013 Homel: new mass events rules – old problems for organizers
In early September, a new decision of Homel city executive committee on mass events came into force. The authorities say that it is meant to “expand the list of places for public events, as well as to improve the interaction between the organizers of public events and local authorities.” However, although the number of locations has increased (two sites instead of one), they are located in places that will make potential participants in the pickets or rallies hire a vehicle to travel to the locations.
26.09.2013 Slonim authorities suppress protests by holding their own events
On September 9, Ales Masiuk, member of the Slonim office of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, submitted to the local executive committee a bid asking for permission to stage on September 29 a rally in the town park to protest against the harassment of the Hazeta Slonimskaya independent weekly, as well as to demand free exercise of the right to subscribe to the independent newspaper in the offices of the state-owned subscription system.
26.09.2013 Amnesty Netherlands visit Belarusian embassy to celebrate Ales Bialiatski's birthday
On Ales Bialiatski’s birthday, the Dutch section of Amnesty paid a visit to the Belarus Embassy in The Hague, presenting its staff with a special birthday cake, and thousands of new signatures demanding freedom for Ales. Amnesty activists also gifted the Embassy with a package of fresh fruit and vegetables, reminding the Belarusian authorities of their ICESCR obligation to ensure fulfillment of the right of persons in detention to the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health.
25.09.2013 Slonim authorities ban picket to hold sports event
On September 10, leader of the Slonim coalition of pro-democratic forces Ivan Sheha filed an application to the district executive committee asking for permission to hold a picket on September 28. The event was expected to be attended by some 40 people.
24.09.2013 Hrodna court confirms picket ban
Judge Zhanna Krauchanka of Hrodna Leninski District Court upheld yesterday a ban on holding a picket in support of Ales Bialiatski, following two and a half hours of examination of a complaint lodged by local human rights defenders, Viktar Sazonau, Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Raman Yurhel, to challenge the decision of the city executive committee.
19.09.2013 Biaroza court confirms picket ban
The court of Biaroza district considered yesterday a joint complaint by human rights defenders Siarhei Rusetski and Tamara Shchapiotkina, as well as civil society activist Tatsiana Tarasevich. They asked the court to reverse a ban imposed by the district executive committee on a demonstration of solidarity with political prisoners scheduled for August 4, as well as to recognize a violation of terms of replying (instead of July 30, as required by law, the reply was sent to the applicants on August 2).
16.09.2013 Baranavichy authorities ban anti-impoverishment picket
Baranavichy city executive committee banned a picket aimed to protest against the decreasing incomes of families raising children. The picket was applied for by local independent trade union activist Ryhor Hryk.
13.09.2013 Constitutional Court refuses to consider appeal against picket bans in Salihorsk
The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus did not to consider the appeal of the Salihorsk activist Uladzimir Shyla who stated about the unconstitutionality of the law enforcement practice of the executive authorities and the ordinary courts of the country , as well as the refusal to authorize mass events and the undue restriction of the constitutional right to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly.
12.09.2013 Authorities prohibit March against abortions
The march was blessed by the heads of the Orthodox and Catholic churches in the country – Metropolitans Filaret and Tadevush Kandrusevich.
10.09.2013 Application for picket against picket bans filed in Slonim
The head of the Slonim association of democratic forces Ivan Sheha filed an application to the Slonim District Executive Committee for holding a picket on 28 September. The planned number of participants is about 40 people.
10.09.2013 Readers defend “Hazeta Slonimskaya”
On 9 September the member of the Slonim organization of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Ales Maisiuk filed an application to the Slonim District Executive Committee to get a permission for the picket he intended to hold on 29 September in the city park.
09.09.2013 Hrodna human rights defenders get summonsed to court
Hrodna human rights defenders Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Viktar Sazonau received summons to the Leninski District Court of Hrodna. Most probably, this is a reaction to the appeal against actions of the Hrodna City Executive Committee, filed by them and one more human rights defender, Raman Yurhel.
09.09.2013 Vitsebskers intend to hold a picket against deployment of Russian airbases
The application for the picket in the Mazyryn park was filed by a member of the Conservative-Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front” Yan Dziarzhautsau. He intends to hold the event on 14 September.
09.09.2013 Homel human rights defenders appeal non-implementation of the Law “On Mass Events” at prosecutor's office
Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka have applied to the prosecutor of the Homel region concerning the non-implementation of the Law “On Mass Events”.
