Anti-poverty pickets still under ban

Activist of a branch of Fair World party in the town of Orsha were not permitted to hold pickets again.

They applied for two pickets against price growth and deterioration in socioeconomic status of Belarusians on May 1. Activists planned to hold pickets in the specially designed places permitted by the local authorities. The applicants even sent written requests to the police department of Orsha, city hospital and utility office Orion asking to sign contracts for security, medical and cleaning services, Viasna human rights centre reports.

None of the listed agencies agreed to sign a contract that became a formal reason for refusal of the city executive committee.

The Orsha city executive committee has not permitted any public event organized by opposition activists since 2007.