Belarusian authorities ban bike ride protest
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 21 October 2011 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Belarusian authorities ban bike ride protest, 21 October 2011, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4ec503f624.html [accessed 25 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
October 21, 2011
Belarusian opposition activist Mikola Charnavus
BARANAVICHY, Belarus – Officials in the central Belarusian town of Baranavichy have denied an activist permission to hold an antigovernment bike ride protest, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports.
Opposition activist Mikola Charnavus planned to ride his bike for five kilometers from Baranavichy to the village of Malaya Taupenitsa on October 27.
He wanted to display three placards on his bike, saying "The President Insults," "The Mayor Ignores," and "The Governor Rejects."
Baranavichy Deputy Mayor Dzmitry Kasyukevich informed Charnavus in writing that his application "violates several articles of the law on holding public actions," but did not specify which ones.
"One of the workers at the Mayor's office ironically told me in the corridor that my plan to hold the protest bike ride was denied because I may fall off [the bike] and hurt myself. Now I will think of ways how to stage a protest that would exclude any possibility of falling," Charnavus told RFE/RL.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
