Pickets on Kazulin's Birthday Banned

As of November 21, 2007 two refusals have been received by applicants from the authorities in answer to three requests for holding pickets in Minsk timed to birthday of the former candidate for presidency Alyaksandr Kazulin.

“As long as a running repairs of the topping, elements of sculpture and improvements are to be carried out at the territory of Nations’ Friendship Park, Minsk city executive committee does not allow holding a picket on November 25, 2007 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.”, the answer signed by a deputy chairman of Minsk city executive committee Mikhail Tsitsyankou reads.

Minsk city branch of the Belarusian Social Democratic party applied for holding a picket at the square near the tent show and received an original answer. “Holding this rally by you would clutter traffic near Arlouskaya Street and Victors’ Avenue”.

As an applicant for the picket Ales Straltsou told to “Belaruski partyzan”: “Minsk city executive committee could suppose that different incidents could take place at the scene. But they have accused us beforehands that the traffic would be blocked. Maybe city authorities have astrologists or fortune-tellers on their staff?”

Meanwhile, on October 24, 2007 a picket was held on the square near the tent show. It wasn’t interfering anybody except officers of some unidentified agencies. “We are going to challenge this decision in the court, as it looks like petty tyranny of the authorities,” Straltsou said.