Lukashenka signs a law which bans any protests
The new draconian law bans any protest rallies, including flash-mobs.
It has transpired that the
Belarusian dictator signed into the law new amendments to the “Law on Mass
Events” back on 8 November. Since now on Belarusians are not permitted to
gather in groups of more than three. The amendments have been registered in The
National Register of Legal Acts today.
The amendments caused heavy criticism of the public, civil organizations of the
country and the West.
The amendments suppose calling “pickets” any gatherings of people organized
with the help of the internet and social networks. Besides, it is determined
that before receiving permission for holding mass events, its organizers and
other persons are not permitted to publish information about the date and the
place of the event on the web or in other informational systems, AFN informs.
The amendments to the law also regulate the procedure of public order
protection when holding mass events on decision of state bodies. In particular
the list of bodies that have a right to carry out such measures is given.
Persons who had violations when organizing mass events within one year, and
were held administratively responsible, are banned from being organizers of
rallies. It is banned to hold several events in one place and with the same
route.
The law expands the list of places where holding mass events is prohibited. In
particular, additional prohibition for holding mass events at the distance of less
than 300 meters
from nuclear facilities and nuclear material storage sites, including ones,
less than 100 meters
from plants producing weapons and ammunition, and 200 meters from
buildings where editorial offices of audiovisual mass media and from TV and
radio transmission facilities are situated.
The amendments to the law prohibit for organizers and participants of rallies to perform any actions violating the normal course of the mass event, and to incite to such actions by any means. It is also prohibited to take part in mass events in the state of alcohol and drug intoxication.
The document allows law-enforcement bodies to put up crowd control barriers around the site of the mass event, legalizes photo and video-filming, imposing pass control.
