UN Committee defends opposition activist from Homel

The UN Human Rights Committee admitted that the Belarusian authorities violated the right of Uladzimir Siakerka to peaceful assembly.

The relative decision became available on the internet on October 28, Homel Spring human rights website reports.

Uladzimir Siakerka applied to the UN Committee after he had exhausted all domestic remedies. The Homel city executive committee prohibited him and 45 other activists to hold a series of mass events in the city to protest against the law on abolition of social benefits to certain categories of people in 2007.

The local officials demanded that the activists should pay the police, medical services and cleaning agencies.

The Human Rights Committee reminds that if the State imposes restrictions with the aim to reconcile an individual’s right to assembly, it should be guided by the objective to facilitate the right, rather than seeking unnecessary or disproportionate limitations to it.

The State party is under an obligation to provide the author with an effective remedy, including reimbursement of the legal costs incurred by the author, as well as adequate compensation, and to take steps to prevent similar violations in the future, the UN Human Rights Committee says.

The Belarusian authorities should review the legislation on mass events to guarantee every citizen the right to peaceful assembly.

The Belarusian authorities must publish the Committee's views in official media within 180 days.