LAW ON POLITICAL PARTIES AND NGOs AMENDED

On 14 May the Chamber of Representatives passed amendments to the Law about Nongovernmental Organizations and political parties. The amended law makes it possible to close down a party or an organization in case it makes one violation of the legislation on mass actions.
The amendemnts, proposed by the Ministry of Justice, are based on the presidential decree. The parliament discussed it twice on their sessions, but passed it only yesterday. RFE/RL reports MP Ivan Pashkevich said the amendments were harmful and confrontational. MP Kuchynski said the law is good only for authorities making it easy for them to ban parties and organizations without even leaving their offices.