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Minsk government bans Ivan Kupala Day march

The Minsk City Executive Committee has rejected an application for permission to stage a march on June 28 on the occasion of Kupalle, Belarus’ folk midsummer holiday, which is internationally known as Ivan Kupala Day.

The application was filed by filmmaker Valery Mazynski, artist Mikola Kupava and opposition activist Uladzimir Kishkurna two months ago. Participants at the march were expected to wear national costumes.

“We suggested that the city government should help us cover the organizational expenses,” Mr. Mazynski told BelaPAN. “However, officials wrote to us that our event would ‘run counter to constitutional norms.” //BelaPAN