Minsk Regional Court rejects picket ban appeal

The judicial board of Minsk Regional Court upheld Salihorsk district court's decision to ban a rally on Freedom Day applied for by a local pro-democratic activist Uladzimir Shyla.

Minsk Regional Court found the applicant's request to obligate local authorities to secure public order and safety as a sufficient reason to ban the mass event. Uladzimir Shyla’s reference to guarantees contained in the Constitution of Belarus and international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights were ignored by the judicial board of Minsk Regional Court, just like earlier by the district court of Salihorsk.

Uladzimir Shyla is not going to stop, and plans to further seek the restoration of his rights. In the near future he intends to file a complaint with the Constitutional Court. Despite the lack of a right of the citizens of Belarus to directly petition the Court, nothing could prevent the court from ruling on such a petition, says the pro-democratic activist.