Belarus opposition group denied permission for march
MINSK. May 8 (Interfax) - The Minsk City Executive Committee has refused to allow opposition party Movement for Freedom to hold a procession in Minsk on May 14.
"The city authorities of Minsk have responded to the applicants for [permission] for the Independence March in the center of Minsk on May 14. It has not been permitted: In a letter, Igor Karpenko, deputy chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee, cites Article 8 of the Law 'On Mass Events,'" the press service of Movement for Freedom told Interfax.
Under this article, "before receiving permission for a mass event, its organizers have no right to announce its date, venue or timing through the media or the Internet," the service said. "The initiators of the Independence March are going to file a new application - for another date, a date that a while ago was the main official holiday."
"The aim of the Independence March is public expression of support for the idea of building the independence of Belarus and a constitutional principle of neutrality," the service said.
Both traditional white-red-white flags and official national red-and-green flags are to be carried during the "consolidated Independence March," it said. "Members of the government will also be invited to take part in it."
Movement for Freedom is headed by Alexander Milinkevich, who unsuccessfully ran for president of Belarus a few years ago.
