Ministry of Justice checks participants of legalization of centre of human rights defense “Vyasna”
The Belarusian Ministry of Justice is interrogating dozens of activists who are going to register the centre of human rights defense “Vyasna”. Let us remind you that this civil organization was liquidated after the appeal of the Ministry of Justice in autumn 2003. An attempt to legalize “Vyasna” was made at the end of July.
A human rights defender, vice-President of the International Federation of Human Rights Ales Byalitski says:
“It is a kind of test to check if the Ministry of Justice is ready to work with the civil sector, if it is ready to legalize Belarusian human rights defenders and the human rights movement”.
According to Alyaksandr Byalitski, “the society is in need of legal organizations of human rights defense that could officially appeal to the Belarusian authorities”.
Interestingly, it was Ales Slizheuski, an official from the Ministry of Justice, who urged human rights defenders to make this step.
A debate between a human rights defender Valyantsin Stefanovich and the head of the department on prevention of activities of unregistered organizations and parties of the Ministry of Justice Slizheuski took place at an OSCE conference in Vienna in spring.
Conditions of work of Belarusian non-governmental organizations were discussed there. The official said in response to the criticism: “Why don’t you prepare documents for a new registration?”
Human rights defenders took the dare, prepared their statute, found a legal address and sent the documents for registration. Furthermore, they are trying to register a republican organization.
50 people from the majority of Belarusian regions are among its founders. Now they are being called to regional departments of justice and interrogated about their meeting.
“It seems to me that Ministry of Justice is going to refuse the registration”, - says Byalitski.
However, if “Vyasna” is legalized, it may set an example for other “shadow” civil associations that were refused registration.
In the photo: Ales Byalitskі sitting on the floor in Supreme Court protesting against liquidation of “Vyasna”. October 2003. Photo by Photo.ByMedia.net
A human rights defender, vice-President of the International Federation of Human Rights Ales Byalitski says:
“It is a kind of test to check if the Ministry of Justice is ready to work with the civil sector, if it is ready to legalize Belarusian human rights defenders and the human rights movement”.
According to Alyaksandr Byalitski, “the society is in need of legal organizations of human rights defense that could officially appeal to the Belarusian authorities”.
Interestingly, it was Ales Slizheuski, an official from the Ministry of Justice, who urged human rights defenders to make this step.
A debate between a human rights defender Valyantsin Stefanovich and the head of the department on prevention of activities of unregistered organizations and parties of the Ministry of Justice Slizheuski took place at an OSCE conference in Vienna in spring.
Conditions of work of Belarusian non-governmental organizations were discussed there. The official said in response to the criticism: “Why don’t you prepare documents for a new registration?”
Human rights defenders took the dare, prepared their statute, found a legal address and sent the documents for registration. Furthermore, they are trying to register a republican organization.
50 people from the majority of Belarusian regions are among its founders. Now they are being called to regional departments of justice and interrogated about their meeting.
“It seems to me that Ministry of Justice is going to refuse the registration”, - says Byalitski.
However, if “Vyasna” is legalized, it may set an example for other “shadow” civil associations that were refused registration.
In the photo: Ales Byalitskі sitting on the floor in Supreme Court protesting against liquidation of “Vyasna”. October 2003. Photo by Photo.ByMedia.net
