Complaint by Mazyr human rights defender to be considered at Homel Regional Court

Human rights defender Uladzimir Tseliapun appeals a ban on a series of pickets in solidarity with the imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski.

The Supreme Court considered the appeal of Uladzimir Tseliapun and sent the civil case to the Presidium of the Homel Regional Court.

On July 26, 2012, the human rights defender received negative responses from the executive committee and the district council of Mazyr to his applications asking for permission to hold a street procession in the city center. The event was scheduled for August 4 and was aimed at distributing leaflets with information about Ales Bialiatski and demanding to stop criminal prosecution against the human rights defender.

By holding the event, Uladzimir Tseliapun wanted to draw the attention of all the structures of civil society in Belarus to a campaign of solidarity and support for the cause of human rights organizations and human rights defenders.

Uladzimir Tseliapun was denied a right to hold the event because of the alleged non-compliance with Article 2 of the Law "On Mass Events in the Republic of Belarus", which states that "a street march is an organized mass movement of citizens on sidewalks or roadway in order to attract attention to any problems or public expression of socio-political moods or a protest.”

The human rights defender submitted numerous applications for holding mass events and protests. And he always received negative answers.

Uladzimir Tseliapun says he will continue to defend the right to freedom of opinion and peaceful marches.