Minister of justice speaks about “long causeless applauding”

No responsibility is provided for people standing on a square if they do not violate public order.

Minister of justice of Belarus Viktar Halavanau said this at a meeting with public, a BelTA correspondent learnt in the Ministry of Justice.

The Minister noted that if a person just stands on a square or in the street and does not violate public order, he does not bring any responsibility, including administrative one. If he claps his hands, it does not violate the law. However, the ministry’s chief added that if long causeless applauding occurs, “it is a question to specialists, who may want to check if he is healthy”.

Another case when a large group of people will “just stand” or “just clap hands” on the square, Viktar Halavanau says. “In my view, this is when their freedom ends to give freedom to those returning home from work or walking on the square with children. This mob impedes them,” the minister underlined.

In this case, actions of police officers, who offer to go to “just stand” or “just clap hand” in other places, have legal grounds. If applauding people refuse to obey, law-enforcement officers may regard their actions as violations of public order and court will set a concrete measure of punishment.