News on the topic: freedom of expression
23.07.2010 ’Right Alliance’ not allowed to hold a picket near Russian Embassy in Minsk
The Minsk City Executive Committee banned an unregistered organization Right Alliance to hold a picket near the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Minsk on 27 July, the day when of the Declaration of the Sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus.
23.07.2010 Vitsebsk: BPF Party banned to hold festive assembly on 27 July
The Kastrychnitski District Executive Committee rejected the application of the Vitsebsk region organization of the Belarusian Popular Front Party for authorizing a festive action dedicated to celebration of an anniversary of the Declaration of Sovereignty of Belarus.
14.07.2010 Homel authorities: no money – no rights
On 12 July, the Tsentralny District Court of Homel considered the lawsuit of the Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka against the ban imposed by the Homel City Executive Committee on over 30 pickets that the activists planned to hold in the most populous places of the city on 1 June in order to mark the International Children’s Day.
13.07.2010 Minsk authorities fear pillow fight
The Minsk city executive committee denied the registered organization Historyka in holding an action on occasion of the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald.
12.07.2010 Minsk authorities ban anti-corruption picket
According to Yury Karetnikau, the leader of the Right Alliance, the Minsk City Executive Committee dismissed the organization’s application for sanctioning an anti-corruption picket on Banhalor Square on 12 July.
12.07.2010 Circulation of ‘Volny Horad’ newspaper arrested by police
According to the editor, Siarhei Niarouny, the newspaper published a material about the scandalous film Godfather (about Aliaksandr Lukashenka) broadcast by the Russian NTV Channel. The journalist supposes this caused the arrest of the paper.
09.07.2010 'Nasha' Niva' newspaper removed from newsstands
The sale of the private socio-political newspaper Nasha Niva at the state newsstands was stopped after the publication of the article Godfather Surrenders.
06.07.2010 Website of socio-political newspaper ‘Vitsebski Kuryer’ is blocked
The editorial board associates it with the enforcement of Decree #60 regulating the activities of the national internet resources.
06.07.2010 Siarhei Panamarou is suspected in insult of officials
Siarhei Panamarou, a Kletsk activist of the For Freedom movement, was summoned to the Minsk Region Procuracy for an interrogation at 10 a.m. on 9 July, at the office of an investigator of especially important cases, Mr. Azarevich, in Shchadryn Street, 1.
01.07.2010 Procuracy wants to know how charter97.org functions
The first day when the decree on internet censorship came into force was marked by questioning of a well-known journalist Natallia Radzina.
10.06.2010 Ales Ramanovich to be tried
On 9 June, Ales Ramanovich, Pinsk activist of the Belarusian Popular Front Party and the movement For Freedom, was interrogated for about 1.5 hours by a police inspector Andrei Rusin. The KGB officer, who watched the activist during the last several days, was present at the interrogation as well.
27.05.2010 Homel authorities ban event marking International Children’s Day
Homel human rights activists Leanid Sudalenka and Anatol Paplauny were refused to hold a meeting marking the International Children’s Day on 1 June. The authorities argue that the activists failed to pay the expenses of the police, medical and sanitary services.
21.05.2010 BAJ Demands Violations of the Freedom of Expression to Be Stopped
20 May the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) made a statement in which it expresses its indignation because of a new wave of repressions against the freedom of expression in Belarus. The wave started 18 May with another police raid at offices and private apartments of civil activists.
05.05.2010 Minsk authorities ban picket in memory of Yury Zakharanka
This time, the authorities motivated their denial in the following way: ‘holding of mass events is not allowed at the distance of less than 200 meters from pedestrian underpasses, metro stations’, ucpb.org informs.
29.04.2010 Brest city authorities ban May Day demonstration
Brest city executive committee turned down the application submitted by the local offices of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party ‘Hramada’ and the Belarusian Party of the Left ‘Just World’ for holding a demonstration on 1 May, Radio Racyja reports.
