“House of representative” turns hand to local gatherings

Holding an open-air local or a republican gathering will soon become impossible in Belarus.

The amended law on republican and local gatherings, passed by the “house of representatives” in the first reading today, says such events can be held only in buildings, Radio Svaboda reports.

The new draft law contains other provisions setting stricter conditions for carrying out gatherings. For example, foreign and international organizations, foreign citizens and persons without citizenship cannot be involved, directly or indirectly, in preparing and holding local gatherings as well as funding and rendering financial assistance to carry out local gatherings.

The new law also bans to “use flags and streamers which are not officially registered as well as emblems, posters and banners, which content is aimed at inflicting harm to public order, rights and legal interests of participants of a republican or a local gathering”.

Article 15 of the draft law provides for a number of conditions to organize local gatherings.