All activities that Viciebsk human rights activists would be held in early December, were either banned or ignored by state media and local authorities.
On the eve of December 10 – the next anniversary of the adoption by the international community of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Human rights activists appealed to the proposals to local authorities and the media Viciebsk. Public activists had hoped to carry out in cooperation with the authorities and state media a number of events dedicated to the 67th anniversary of the adoption of important international instruments in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
However, all of whom were sent to the treatment of human rights defenders, have refused to participate in the activities offered by them or restrictions in carrying out these activities.
Thus, the deputy head of administration of the Railway District of Viciebsk Alexander Ilmovich banned rally that human rights were going to be held on 10 December at the recreation park of railwaymen. The reason that the authorities gave grounds to deny applicants the opportunity to hold a mass event – lack of concluded agreements with the police, community services and health workers on the picket service. But human rights activists have a different version of the causes of failure – is the lack of leadership the city the political will to establish cooperation with human rights defenders in promoting the idea of human rights among Viciebsk residents.
Appeal to the Director of TV and radio company "Viciebsk" with the proposal to prepare a program dedicated to the adoption by the General Assembly of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was Viciebsk broadcasters ignored. The proposed transfer of human rights activists were ready to discuss with the authorities of the state of civil and political rights in Viciebsk and to inform area residents about the opportunities and how to protect the economic, social and cultural human rights.
Human rights activists had been proposed, and the chief editor of the newspaper "Vićbičy": to prepare the materials, devoted to 67 anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including interviews with human rights activists publish Viciebsk. From the first sentence of human rights staff of the newspaper agreed and promised that in the pages of the magazine published an article on the adoption of the UN General Assembly of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, interviews with human rights defenders readers of this publication, unfortunately, will not see.
But the Viciebsk city council of deputies to the proposal to prepare and hold a "round table" dedicated to the adoption of the declaration, said the modest silence. Thus, the leadership of the City Council showed its true, disregard for the human rights community and the human rights protection system. This behavior is elected by the citizens of the city representative body of power is hardly acceptable.
As for the executive power of the city, the chief of department of ideological work, Culture and Youth Affairs of Viciebsk City Council Natalia Shienok reported human rights defenders, in terms of the activities of the agency's activities are not scheduled on the proposed topics related to the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, Natalya Alekseevna nevertheless indirectly supported the initiative of Viciebsk human rights, saying that if you want to hold a round table dedicated to the specified event, then please spend – but without us. However, human rights activists realize that without the participation of the authorities makes no sense holding any public event, since only with the participation of representatives of the authorities of the purpose of the round table can be fully realized.
Lyavon Efremenko
