Homel civil activist appeals picket ban

Homel city executive committee has banned a picket applied for by the coordinator of the civil initiative “Stop drinking – Live Instead” Dzmitry Karashkou. The picket was expected to attract public attention to the problem of alcohol abuse.

The reason for the ban is the same as faced by all applicants of pickets and rallies in the last four years: the applicant failed to comply with the obligation to enter into agreements with the police, ambulance and housing services. The obligations are imposed on applicants of events in Homel, according to the decision of the city’s executive officials.

Dzmitry Karashkou believes that giving to the organizers of mass events additional duties on signing contracts with the police, medical and housing services is nothing but restriction of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

On March 22 the coordinator of the civil initiative filed a complaint in Tsentralny District Court of Homel.

In his statement, the activist points out that the city executive committee’s ban violates his rights under both the Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. He asks the court to recognize the decision regulating the conduct of mass events illegal, cancel the provisions limiting the legitimate rights of citizens, and to name illegal the decision of the executive committee to ban the picketing.