Over 70 pickets “For honest elections without Lukashenka” banned

The authorities do not permit the United Civil Party (UCP) to hold over 70 pickets “For honest elections without Lukashenka” on May 15.

“We have not received any positive replies to our applications in all regions,”' UCP leader Anatol Lyabedzka told in an interview for BelaPAN news agency.

Lyabedzka noted the UCP wanted to “test” the authorities and see how the parliamentary election campaign would be carried out. “The authorities did not pass the test. I applied for a picket near Radzivilauski shop. The Minsk city executive committee explained the refusal with repair works at a parking lot nearby. I came to the shop today and did not see there are any works,” he said.

The politician said he had carried out pickets near Radzivilauski shop during election campaigns in 2008 and 2010, but “now the authorities use every far-fetched excuse to ban pickets”.