It is two years since Baranavichy activist Mikalai Charnavus started applying for the registration of a local Ukrainian minority NGO “Kobzar”. His latest visit to chairman of Brest regional executive committee Kanstantsin Sumar was not optimistic, as the high official said the NGO could only be registered after 15 mln rubles were donated to the city budget.
The organizing committee of the Congress of the Belarusian Assembly of NGOs had to cancel the even as it didn't manage to reach an agreement with the International Educational Center (IBB), which refused to lend premises for the 7th congress of the Assembly on 5-6 May.
GENEVA (25 April 2012) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Wednesday expressed deep concern about current or recent moves in a number of countries to curtail the freedom of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other civil society actors to operate independently and effectively. Pillay noted that freedom of association is under increasing pressure in many countries across the world. “Freedom of association is the lifeblood of NGOs,” she said. “Systemic legal or administrative attempts to curtail their activities can be very damaging.”
On 10 February the Baranavichy City Court considered administrative case against the head of the steering committee of the Ukrainian diaspora association “Kobzar”, Mikalai Charnavus. Judge Stanislau Pivavarau summoned to the trial a representative of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee Siarhei Piatsihorau and police major Vital Dabrachynski.
The Soviet of the Republic sees no need to initiate the abolishment of Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, which penalizes activities on behalf of organizations that are not registered with the state.
On 17 January, Belarusian civil society activists launched an online signature-raising campaign for the abolition of Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code, which provides for up to two years in prison for illegal NGO membership, www.belaruspartisan.org reports.
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