Vitsebsk authorities ban picket

Vitsebsk authorities have banned a picket applied for by local human rights defender Leanid Svetsik.

The ban refers to the applicant’s failure to sign the necessary contracts with local police, medical and housing services. The city authorities keep banning pickets referring to Decision #881. In reality, local pro-democratic activists cannot fulfill the restrictions, as the above-mentioned departments refuse to sign agreements until the picket is authorized by the executive authorities.

“The reasons for the ban are purely formal, as we applied for staging a picket in the authorized venue. In essence, violate customers’ rights, as we are required to pay double – for the services already covered by the city’s budget”, says human rights defender Leanid Svetsik.