Freedom Day in Vitebsk at threat due to “seasonal diseases”

Leanid Autukhou, the head of the regional branch of BPF party, filed an application to Vitebsk's Chyhunachny district administration for holding a rally on Lokomotiv stadium on March 25.

Khrystafor Zhalyapau, the head of the regional branch of For Freedom movement, proposes to carry out a rally on March 25 in a city park.

The democratic activists decided to unite if at least one of the rallies is permitted, Viasna human rights centre report.

However, they have doubts that the demonstrations will be allowed. The municipal authorities allow holding mass events on both venues, but only if applicants have agreements with the central polyclinic, the regional police department and the housing and utility company.  

No democratic activists have been able to meet these conditions for the last three years, because the above mentioned organisations refuse to sign agreements with opposition activists for various reasons.

The police and the polyclinic denied both organisers. Medical officials say all ambulances will be busy due to the rise of seasonal diseases. The police answer they can sign an agreement only if the event is permitted by the district administration.

The applicants are indignant over the police's reply: they must fulfil the decision of the city executive committee and sign an agreement with the police as the first conditions for having a rally, but the police department violates this decision saying it will act in reverse order.

Autukhou filed complaints to a prosecutor's office and the Vitebsk regional executive committee. For Freedom representative Zhalyapau filed a lawsuit to the Kastrychnitski district court demanding the polyclinic to sign the agreement. He also sent a complaint to the Interior Ministry.

Both activists submitted applications with attached replies from the police and the polyclinic. They say officials restrict their right to expression.

Autukhou says the rally will be carried out even if it is not permitted. Zhalyapau hopes he will have enough time before the Freedom Day to win the lawsuit against the polyclinic and receive an answer from the Interior Ministry obliging the Vitebsk police to correct violations.