Brest: Dzianis Turchaniak applies to Supreme Court

Brest coordinator of the “For Freedom Movement” Dzianis Turchaniak continues struggling for making the deputy head of the Brest City Executive Committee Viachaslau Khafizau give publicity to the decision of the authorities concerning the fate of a historical building.

Earlier the official refused to issue to Mr. Turchaniak copies of decisions of the Brest City Executive Committee concerning the fate of house #26 on 17 Verasnia Street (which possesses the status of a historical and cultural monument). Turchaniak's appeals to the Brest City Court, the Brest Region Court and the head of the latter court gave no results – the courts turned them down, stating that the present legislation didn't oblige the Brest City Executive Committee to issue copies of the decisions they took.

Dzianis Turchaniak disagrees with such a position. According to him, by refusing to issue a copy of the decision the authorities violate the principles of publicity of official decisions, enshrined in Article 3 of the Law “On local government and self-government in the Republic of Belarus”. Moreover, according to Article 34 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, citizens have the right to receive, keep and disseminate complete, accurate and timely information about activities of state organs, civil associations, political, economic, cultural and international life and the environmental situation. State organs, public associations and duty officials must provide citizens of the Republic of Belarus with an opportunity to familiarize with the materials which concern their rights and legal interests. According to Article 15 of the Constitution, the state is also responsible for saving historical, cultural and spiritual heritage and free development of the cultures of all national communities living in the Republic of Belarus.