First May actions banned in regions

• 27.04.2012, 12:12

An action of solidarity with workers of Granit plant scheduled for May 1 has been banned in Mikashevichy.

The local authorities dismissed an application for holding a mass action to express support to activists of independent trade union of Granit plant. The city authorities say a sporting event was planned on the stadium on that day, Viasna human rights centre reports.

Initiators of the public action – head of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union Mikalai Zimin and head of the the trade union branch on Granit plant Aleh Stakhayevich – received an answer from the city authorities saying their application was dismissed in accordance with the Law on Mass Events that forbids to hold several events in the same place.

Independent trade union activists doubt the city sport competition was scheduled for May 1, because such events have not been held in Mikashevichy on that day before. Organizers of the picket are going to appeal against the ban in court if it turns out the sport competition was not planned.