Vitsebsk authorities ban picket dated to anniversary of October revolution

Members of the Conservative Christian Party Belarusian Popular Front Piatro Sarapenia and Yan Dziarzhautsau wanted to conduct their event on November 7 in order to inform the citizens about the consequences of the October coup d'etat and the need to ban the Communist Party of Belarus and its ideology.

The official reason for the picket ban was the notorious ruling No. 881of the Vitsebsk City Execution Committee "On Mass Events in Vitsebsk". According to this decision, the applicants shall attach to the application to the district administration contracts for the services of medics, police officers and public utilities. However, medics and police refuse to enter into any service contracts with the applicants.

Members of CCP BPF and other democratic parties and movements of Vitsebsk have tried to enter into such contracts many times. Due to the absence of the contracts, they weren't allowed to conduct a single mass events since 2009. Thus, Vitsebsk officials deprive citizens of the opportunity to exercise the right to peaceful assembly and public expression of their views. The authorities also refuse to amend the discriminatory ruling despite the appeals of the activists to various state bodies and attempts to protect heir right to peaceful assemblies in court.