Authorities ban protests in Hrodna

Activists with the United Civil Party in Hrodna were denied permission to stage pickets in defense of the old part of the city that faces "reconstruction" under the government's plan. Politicians said they were going to take the city hall to court.
The city officials said the local part and a stadium -- the sites where the United Civil Party wanted to stage pickets -- would not be appropriate locations. At the same time, officials offered no alternative to those sites.

The chairman of the local branch of the United Civil Party, Yuras Istomin, the official response is "a total absurdity." The park and the stadium are approved by the city authorities as the sites for pickets.

Meanwhile, the Save Hrodna civil campaign today launched their information service, which collects all the information about the developments associated with the "reconstruction".

The center coordinator, Pavel Mazeika, says it aims to facilitate the work of journalists, covering the campaign to protect the old historical part of Hrodna from extinsion.