As of March 1st of this year, the infamous article 23.34 will be replaced by 24.23, the period of arrest will be increased from 15 to 30 days, and the number of fines will be increased from 50 to 100 base values, and 200 base values in case of repeated administrative infringement.
Volha Kovalkova, a member of the Board of the Coordination Council, commented on the changes to the Code of Administrative Offences:
– Under the Belarusian Constitution and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by our country, Belarusians are guaranteed the right to freedom of assembly and picket.
This did not prevent the present authorities from condemning more than 30,000 Belarusians under art. 23.34 for exercising this right.
The current authorities hate their people so much that they are willing to do whatever it takes to silence the Belarusians. In order for the State to function, we must accept each other’s differences and, regardless of opinion, have equal rights and guarantees of their observance.
The Law «On Mass Events» and the Code on Administrative Offences must be brought into line with the Constitution and not violate it.
We are not silent until the rule of law returns to our country.
