Baranavichy authorities ban anti-impoverishment picket

Baranavichy city executive committee banned a picket aimed to protest against the decreasing incomes of families raising children. The picket was applied for by local independent trade union activist Ryhor Hryk.

The official letter received by the activist says that “irrespective of the number of expected participants the organizers of the mass event should sign contracts.”

“We know this too well. But it appears impossible to sign contracts with the public utilities, medical and police services. Therefore, in my application, I reported that the trade union activists would secure public order during the picket themselves, then they would clean up the territory and pay for the medical maintenance of the picket within 10 days after the event. However, they keep banning pickets, both with contracts and without them,” says Ryhor Hryk.

The activist also says that the lives of families with children are getting worse, while their incomes are not increasing and prices are constantly going up.