Over 40 pickets banned in Homel

Following a long-lasting tradition, the Homel City Executive Committee has not given permission to a series of pickets. Local human rights defenders, activists of the pro-democratic organizations and political parties were planning to stage 40 protests in Homel on July 27 in order to mark the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Sovereignty.

The Executive Committee said that the applicants did not fulfill the requirements of local rules, according to which each organizer must sign contracts and pre-pay for ambulance and utilities services. In addition, the refusal refers to the fact that the applicants had planned to hold the events in the most crowded places of the regional center, while the rules allow holding pickets and other activities in only two places – in a remote industrial area near and near the stadium on the outskirts of the city.

Meanwhile, signing contracts with the doctors and utilities is simply impossible. The clinic representatives say that they lack vehicles and the communal service refers to lack of personnel.

On July 21, local human rights defenders also received a refusal to their request. They who wanted to hold a rally on August 4 to remind the public of the presence of political prisoners in the country.

Since 2004, Homel authorities have not allowed to hold a single rally, meeting or procession, which was initiated by pro-democracy activists.