The Malaryta District Court (the Brest region) confirmed the legality of the prohibition of the picket by the Malaryta District Executive Committee.

The picket organizer, a member of the Brest branch of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Uladzimir Malei, thinks that the trial was unfair, as the authorities violated his freedom of expression and peaceful assemblies by banning the action.

He intended to hold the picket “For Honest Elections” in a busy place – not far from the Culture House. The authorities explained the ban by saying that the local culture department and the local registry office are situated in the Culture House and mass events can be held at least at 50-meter distance from state institutions. However, the human rights defender believes that, being the only participant of the picket, he could hardly do any harm to these institutions.

Uladzimir Malei is going to continue appealing the ban until depleting all national remedies, and then apply to the UN.

“Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”