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Authorities in Baranavichy ban opposition activist from demonstrating in support of Ukraine's ex-PM Tymoshenko

The Baranavichy City Executive Committee has banned a local opposition activist from staging a demonstration a one-man demonstration in support of Ukraine’s former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Ryhor Hryk, a member of the United Civic Party, wanted to hold the demonstration on October 16 to protest what he said the politically motivated trial of Ms. Tymoshenko in Kyiv.

The city government replied that it could not allow the demonstration, as the Ukrainian government could view it as interference in the country's internal affairs.

In an interview with BelaPAN, Mr. Hryk condemned the ban, saying that it was in violation of his constitutional rights.

He said that he would file an appeal against it with the Baranavichy City Prosecutor’s Office.

Local human rights defender Raman Kislyak dismissed the cited grounds for the ban as absurd.

International treaties and the country’s constitution guarantee people freedom of expression, which means that citizens of Belarus have the right to express their opinion also about events taking place abroad, he said, adding that the city government had used the Mass Events Law to prohibit Mr. Hryk’s demonstration.

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian court found ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko guilty of abuse of office on October 11, sentencing her to seven years in prison. //BelaPAN