News on the topic: freedom of peaceful assembly
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.
13.01.2012 Activist of “United Russia” detained for action of solidarity with Kavalenka
Pyotr Ivanov, a citizen of the Russian Federation, was detained for handing out leaflets calling to support an imprisoned oppositionist from Vitsebsk in court.
12.01.2012 Court turns down appeal of Uladzimir Marozau against smothering by police
On 12 January the Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk considered the appeal of disabled Uladzimir Marozau against the refusal of the Pershamaiski District Procuracy of Minsk to instigate a criminal case against the policemen who had smothered the man during a peaceful protest action.
12.01.2012 Homel: court upholds picket ban
On 12 January Siarhei Shytsikau, Judge of the Tsentralny District Court of Homel, turned down the appeal of the Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka against the refusal of the Homel City Executive Committee to authorize their picket, dated to the Human Rights Day, 10 December.
10.01.2012 Barysau: “prophylactic talk” with UCP member
A member of the United Civil Party, collector of signatures for holding of a People’s Assembly Mikalai Iliiushonak. Mikalai had received a telephone call from the Barysau City Police Department before the New Year holidays and was told to come there. However, he demanded to be issued with an official summons first.
09.01.2012 Minsk: journalist imprisoned for elucidation of picket near KGB goes on hunger-strike
On 8 January guards of the Minsk KGB office detained an activist of the “European Belarus”, Mikita Kavalenka, and journalist Aliaksandr Barazenka. The action lasted for about a minute: Kavalenka unfurled white-red-white flags and portraits of political prisoners, while Barazenka shot it on video.
06.01.2012 Brest Region Court turns down appeal of trade-union activists
Brest Region Court turned down the appeal of activists of the Free Trade Union of Belarus against the refusal of the Brest City Executive Committe to authorize its picket “For Worthy Work”.
06.01.2012 Brest: Ales Charkashyn warned by procuracy
On 4 January the Brest Region Procuracy issued an official warning to Ales Charkashyn, coordinator of the steering committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party in Brest. She had been summonsed to the procuracy back at the end of December 2011, but hadn't come there, being away from Brest.
03.01.2012 Opposition activist is expelled from college again
While Maladechna resident Pavel Siarhei was serving his arrest for participation in the peaceful street action of 19 December 2011, a letter about his expulsion from Maladechna State Polytechnic College because of “truancy” was sent to his home.
02.01.2012 Baranavichy Ukrainians apply for authorization of picket “Officials Are against Friendship between Peoples”
At the end of 2011, the head of the Baranavichy civil association “Kobzar”, Mikalai Charnavus, applied for authorization of a picket in 25 January. By means of this action “Kobzar” members intend to inform the population about the refusal of the local authorities to provide the NGO with a legal address. According to the Belarusian legislation, the Baranavichy Ukrainans (1,210 people) cannot register their association with the state without a legal address. As we have already written, the public utilities board of Baranavichy had revoked its letter of guarantee concerning the provision of office space for the NGO in Savetskaya Street, 60.
02.01.2012 Youth activists are tried at Minsk courts
Trials of youth activists continued at the Maskouski District Court of Minsk despite the New Year Holidays.
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.
