Police refuse to visit Freedom Day picket in Baranavichy

The authorities of Baranavichy forbade to celebrate the anniversary of the Belarusian People's Republic.

Activist Viktar Syritsa received a letter from deputy head of the Baranavichy city executive committee Dzmitry Kastyukevich on March 20. The letter reads the city authorities don't permit to hold a picket on March 25, 2013, on occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Belarusian People's Republic, Viasna human rights centre informs.

The city executive committee thinks the applicant violated article 5 of the Law on Mass Events of 30.12.1997 and provision 4 of decision No. 1497 of the Baranavichy city executive committee of 16.06.2009 “On Order of Holding Mass Events in Baranavichy” (amended by decision No. 2497 of the Baranavichy city executive committee of 05.10.2009). The reply of the city authorities doesn't say what particular  the applicant violated and proposes to apply to the Brest regional executive committee or a court if he doesn't agree with the decision.

“I signed agreements with the city polyclinic and the utility office, but police officer Pavel Kulhavik refused to sign an agreement to protect public order as the city executive committee wants. I visited the police department two times and spoke to him on the phone too. All attempts failed. My constitutional right to freedom of assemblies, gatherings and pickets depends on a small official in our country,” Viktar Syritsa says.

The activist is going to complain to higher authorities about illegal actions of police officer Pavel Kulhavik.