Picket against growing prices banned in Baranavichy

• 3.10.2013, 15:26

The Baranavichy city executive committee forbade to hold a picket for decent work.

Ryhor Hryk, a local activist of the electronic industry trade union, says the picket was planned for October 7, the World Day for Decent Work, to attract public attention to mass violations of workers' rights, the problem of safe working conditions and decent pay, BelaPAN news agency reports.

Picketers were also going to protest against growing prices.

The 90-minute picket was planned to be held in an old park in Kamsamolskaya Street, the place chosen by the authorities for mass events. About 10 people were expected to come.

Hryk says the local authorities banned the picket, because the application didn't comply with the requirements of paragraph 4 of the ruling on mass events issued by the Baranavichy district executive committee.

“In my opinion, they banned it because I didn't file the agreement with the police on time. It took me one day to sign agreements with the emergency medical service and the utility company, but the police signed the document only after my complaint to the local authrities,” Hryk says. “I think they create these obstacle on purpose, because they don't want protests in the region.”