Baranavichy authorities ban rally because the applicant has been punished by court for an administrative offense
On 7 February the Baranavichy
entrepreneur and civil activist Mikalai Charnavus received a letter
signed by the deputy head of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee
Dz. Kastsiukevich in which it was stated that the executive committee
did not authorize the rally the applicant intended to held on 12
February. As it is stated in the letter, "the persons who have
been punished for violating the order of holding or organizing mass
events cannot act as organizers of mass events during one year after
the imposition of the administrative penalty".
"I
was prohibited to hold the rally, as on 19 November the Court of the
Baranavichy city and district had punished me for violation of
Article 23.34, part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses by
organizing a charitable dinner for homeless people at the Baranavichy
market," stated Mikalai Charnavus.
Bear in mind that
Mikalai Charnavus and other Baranavichy entrepreneurs wanted to hold
a rally on 12 February to protest against the increase of taxes which
made their business hopeless and unprofitable.