30 April 2003
Social Democrats in Brest denied permission to demonstrate on Labor Day
The city authorities in Brest have denied the local branch of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party "Narodnaya Hramada" (BSDP) permission to stage a Labor Day demonstration on May 1.
Explaining the denial Aleksandr Palyshenkov, first deputy chairman of the Brest City Executive Committee, said that the police were unable to provide security for the BSDP-planned march and rally.
Anatoly Levkovich, leader of the BSDP organization in Brest, dismissed the explanation as "far-fetched," noting that the authorities might have been angered by the appearance of a large number of party flags during last year's official Labor Day festivities.
Mr. Levkovich said that some BSDP activists plan to go to Baranovichi on May 1 to take part in an authorized BSDP rally there. The Brest authorities plan to stage an official rally at 11 a.m., followed by festivities in the Culture and Recreation Park.
http://brestonline.com/en/news/news400.html