Polotsk district executive committee refused to hold a public event inhabitants of Polotsk. Citizens asked local authorities to allow a picket on December 30 to draw attention to the creation of the Society of Consumer Protection, which is not in Polotsk. On February 9, the Court of Polotsk not found in the actions of the executive committee to ban picketing law violations.
Local authorities have long refused to register in Polotsk consumer protection. The reasons for refusal are different, mainly related to the legal address and renting suitable premises.
Public purpose picket
The purpose of the picket on December 30 was to collect signatures under the statement to assist the executive realization of their legitimate right of consumers to create a society of consumer protection. It was assumed that the number of participants of mass events will be only three people, the venue was to be ground at the main entrance of the cinema "Rodina". And to the application for picketing accompanied by a written commitment from the organizers guarantee the compliance of the order, as well as copies of the application to the local police, in engineering and in the hospital for help in the picket. All of these urban services on a fee basis refused to serve picket.
Was not able to help with the registration of the company even a member of Parliament
The organizer of the picket Yuri Belsky, apply for a picket to the executive committee: "Local authorities stubbornly refuse to register in Polotsk consumer protection, putting pressure on the organizers, prevent tenancy for the Company. Even member of the House of Representatives Natalia Guyvik could not help us with the registration of organizations to protect customers."
"A picket of local authorities officially banned because no contracts with utilities, the police and the hospital, which, incidentally, refused to serve the picket even for money. Of course, I will appeal this decision to a higher court, and if necessary, up to the international bodies of the UN," - said Yuri Belsky.
Dishonesty in relation to citizens
Already have a precedent decision on Belarus of the UN Committee on Human Rights (CHR), which points to the failure by the Government of its obligations to its citizens. The government does not respect the rights of citizens to organize, to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly (including, in the form of pickets). One solution to the HRC on Belarus says plainly that the requirement for citizens pay for the work of urban services (police, housing and medicine) during a peaceful gathering in the city makes illusory the rights of citizens to express their opinions and to assemble peacefully.
Familiarize officials with solutions for Citizens' Rights
Belarusian "Human Rights House" published a collection of the decisions of the HRC on Belarus. A copy of the publication was attached to the materials of judicial review for failure picket in Polotsk district executive committee. Another copy of the book was presented to the HRC decisions lawyer representing Polotsk district executive committee, to study and more faithful observance of the rights of inhabitants of Polotsk to peaceful activities.
Alexander Morozov, Polotsk
