Court Turns down Complaint against Bans of Peaceful Assemblies

On 1 February the court of Baranavichy and Baranavichy district considered the suit of the lawyer Karney Piatrovich against the ban of a picket by Baranavichy city executive committee. Despite convincing arguments proving that the ban was illegal the court, predictably enough, took the side of the authorities. 

Realizing their constitutional right to peaceful assemblies, guaranteed by article 35 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, at the end of 2007 the citizens of Baranavichy – Siarhei Housha, Viktar Meziak, Karnei Piatrovich and Viktar Syrytsa applied to the executive committee for permission to hold a picket, timed to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, the executive committee did not authorize the action, as it does for the last 1,5-2 years.

Being dissatisfied with such treatment, Karnei Piatrovich applied to court. Judge Makaday turned down the suit. People’s rights again stay on paper.