UN Human Rights Committee to consider complaint against ban on picket in support of Ales Bialiatski
Sviatlana Haldadze
A letter received on January 23 by the former chair of Homel City Executive Committee Sviatlana Haldadze says the UN Human Rights Committee has registered the complaint, which she, together with Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka, filed in connection with a ban on a rally in support of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski expected to be staged on August 4, 2012.
Similar pickets were scheduled across the country. Applications for the pickets were filed in all the regional centers and other cities, but all the gatherings were banned.
Sviatlana Haldadze asks the Committee to establish a violation of her and the human rights defenders’ rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression and to recommend the Belarusian government to bring the Law “On Mass Events” and executive restrictions on street events in line with the country’s international obligations.
According to the procedure, after filing a complaint, it is sent to the government of the country, which should provide its comments within six months following the receipt. The complainant is entitled to an opportunity to comment on the government’s comments. The complaint is then awaiting consideration, which can take up to 3 or 4 years.
