Authorities ban opposition rallies

The Minsk City Executive Committee has rejected the Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD) party’s application for permission to hold two rallies in the Belarusian capital, BelaPAN reported.
The unregistered party wanted the rallies to become part of its nationwide campaign to promote cost-saving, charity and liberalization as ways of tackling the economic crisis.


BCD planned to hold the events near the entrance to the Kamarouski food market and Peoples’ Friendship Park close to Bangalore Square on April 25.

The Homyel authorities also have banned a rally that opposition forces planned to hold in the city in southeastern Belarus on the occasion of the Chernobyl accident. The rally was to draw public attention to unsolved Chernobyl-related problems and the current economic and social situation in the country.