Vitsebsk: holding of picket is hindered by... box

Vitsebsk activists received a letter from the ambulance, which refused to send a car to their picket on 12 April due to alleged business.

Last time the doctors of the central polyclinic referred to a "outburst of seasonal illnesses" on Freedom Day and refused to conclude a service agreement with the organizers of an appropriate rally for this reason. At the same time, the city authorities refuse to authorize any mass events without being presented such agreements by their organizers.

Vitsebsk social-democrat Aliaksei Haurutsikau and the head of the regional branch of the "For Freedom" movement Khrystafor Zhaliapau wanted to hold a picket of solidarity with political prisoners and against the impoverishment of the Belarusian population on 12 April in 30-hoddzia VLKSM Park.

However, Pershamaiski District Executive Committee refused to authorize the event due to the absence of the service agreement with the medics. The ambulance service, in its turn, refused to conclude a service agreement under the pretext that "the brigades will be serving the national box universiade".

Mr. Zhaliapau has already tried to make the medics conclude a service agreement for another action through court. However, Kastrychnitski District Court of Vitsebsk ruled that the institution has the right to decide whether to conclude service agreements or not. At the same time, according to the ruling of Vitsebsk City Executive Committee, mass events can be held only if their organizers present service agreements with the police, medics and public utilities.

The local activists have repeatedly tried to initiate changes in this ruling. However, the authorities object that the ruling passed legal examination and was introduced in the register of legal acts of the Republic of Belarus and therefore is flawless.