Case on Suspension of Activity of Belarusian Helsinki Committee Is Resumed

03.11.2006.

According to RFE/RL

The Supreme Court of Belarus has resumed the case on suspension of the activity of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee. In June the Ministry of Justice asked the court to suspend the activity of the organization for alleged non-payment of 160 millions of fines and taxes from the received foreign aid. However, at that time the consideration of the ministry’s suit was suspended till the consideration of the organization’s complaints (the BHC tried to appeal the court decision according to which they had to pay the money). The main argument was that the state exempted TACIS programs from all taxes. In October the last complaint was declined and on 1 November Minsk City Economic Court decided to confiscate the property of BHC and the Supreme Court resumed the case that was initiated by the Ministry of Justice. Aleh Sliszheuski, the chair of the department of public associations of the Ministry of Justice, refused to answer the question about the term for which the ministry wanted to suspend the activity of the BHC.