Authorities ban pickets to mark political prisoner Kozulin's birthday

Authorities in Minsk have not allowed pickets to mark the birthday anniversary of political prisoner Alexander Kozulin on November 25, despite the fact that the events were planned to take place in remote parks of the Belarusian capital. Minsk City Hall said repairs were supposed to take place on the Bangalore square, while on Arlouskaya street the picket would "hinder the traffic of transport and passengers".

Nevertheless, members of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Gramada), led by Kozulin, still plan to come to the Bangalore square and verify that repairs are under way.

If there are no repairs taking place in the park, the party activists will sue the Minsk City Hall in court, reports Belapan.

Meanwhile in Hrodna, local authorities also banned pickets in support of political prisoners. Some 20 applications were filed by activists of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, the United Civic Party and the Belarusian Party of Communists. The actions were also planned to take place on November 25, notes Radio Svaboda.