Minsk authorities ban picket on Constitution Day

The Minsk city authorities didn't permit activists of the civil initiative against lawlessness in courts and prosecution agencies to carry out a picket on Constitution Day.

Charter97.org learnt it from the initiative's leader, lawyer Tamara Syarhei.

“We planned to hold a picket in Minsk centre on March 15, Constitution Day, but received a written refusal signed by Ihar Karpenka, a deputy chairman of the Minsk city executive committee. It says the application for the picket doesn't comply with article 9 of the law on mass events,” the activist noted.

She stressed articles 33 and 35 of the Constitution and article 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights give the right to free expression and holding a picket.

“The actions by Minsk officials show that the civil rights set by the country's main law exist only on paper, but not in reality. The Minsk authorities didn't find it confusing that the applicants wanted to carry out the picket on Constitution Day,” Tamara Syarhei said.