Supreme Court upholds prohibition of picket in Baranavičy

July 7, Baranavičy human rights activist Siarhei Housha received a response from the Supreme Court to his complaint concerning the prohibition of the picket he intended to hold on December 10, 2014. The picket was prohibited by Baranavičy City Executive Committee. The ban was then upheld by Baranavičy City and District Court and Brest Regional Court. The Supreme Court recognized the courts' verdicts as lawful and dismissed the appeal of the human rights activist.

According to Siarhei Housha, the city court, the regional court and even the supreme court ignored the fact that the law was violated by Baranavičy City Executive Committee itself, since it didn't mention the reasons for banning the picket. Meanwhile, the officials also violated the statutory term of answering to the applicants.

The Supreme Court did not take note of the explanations on the illegality of human rights claims of the executive committee that the applicants entered into an service contract with the police to maintain the public order during the mass event in violation of Ruling No. 207 of the Council of Ministers of March 5, 2012.

As it follows from the letter, the Supreme Court did not grant the supervisory complaint of the human rights activist, arguing that the organizers of the mass event failed to specify the measures regarding the health care and cleaning of the territory after the event.

“In our statement it was said that the copies of the contracts with the clinic and the public utilities are attached to it, and the copies were really attached. The applications of to the executive committee also contain the undertakings of the organizers of the mass event to secure the public order during its conduct. However, the judges of all court instances “don't notice” these documents,” commented Mr. Housha.

Siarhei Housha does not agree with the verdict of the Supreme Court and intends to appeal to the Prosecutor General.