Mahilou and Babruisk Municipalities Ban Opposition Pickets and Rally

26.09.2006.

Mahilou pro-democratic activists plan to file a new application. Babruisk opposition members are ready to sue the municipality. Vorsha activists are still waiting for the response from the city authorities.

RFE/RL reports, Mahilou opposition activists planned to hold two promotion pickets and a meeting with the leader of the United Democratic Forces Alexander Milinkevich on September 30. In Babruisk members of the Social Democratic Party (Hramada) were to organize pickets in support of the imprisoned former presidential candidate Alexander Kazulin.

Mahilou municipality did not consider the applications referring to the absence of the full package of the documents – contracts with communal, medical and law-enforcing services.

Babruisk authjorities grounded the refusal on the fact that all staff of law-enforcing bodies, communal and medical services are busy with preparation of Dazhynki (Harvesting) Festival. In 2006 Babruisk Social Democrats applied to the city authorities for permission to hold a picket 4 times. And 4 times the city authorities did not allow the picketing.