Belarusian law on mass events amended

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed the law to amend the legislation that regulates mass events.

The organization of mass events after simply notifying the authorities is no longer an option. Once the law comes into force, all mass events have to be authorized by municipal authorities.

Funds cannot be raised, money and other assets cannot be received and used, services cannot be rendered in order to compensate for the cost caused by prosecution for violating the established procedure of organization of mass events.

Mass events, which take place in violation of the established procedure, cannot be covered in real time for the sake of their popularization or propaganda. The prohibition also applies to reporters of mass media.

Reporters cannot act as organizers or participants of mass events in the course of their work.

Municipal authorities and law enforcement agencies are hereby authorized to suspend the operation of infrastructure (retail outlets, public catering, transport, fairs, organizations of all kinds) in places where mass events take place and along the routes their participants use.

Political parties and public associations will be held responsible if their leaders and members of governing bodies make public calls for organizing a mass event before the permission to organize the event is granted.

The main provisions of the law will come into force one month after its official publication.