ON JUNE 17 THE HOMEL REGIONAL COURT JUDGE ALENA KRAWCHANKA RULED TO SHUT DOWN THE LEADING REGIONAL NGO CIVIL INITIATIVES.

On June 17 the Hrodna regional court ruled to shut down the public association Civil Initiatives, as requested by the regional justice department. The latter claimed that in course of their inspection they revealed facts of systematic violations on part of the Civil Initiatives of both their own statute and the country’s legislation. Although during the complex check-up (in January 2003) none of such violations were disclosed by the tax inspectors, the court found the Civil Initiatives association guilty all the same.

Moreover, the jury found out that the organization issued and distributed agitation flyers, violated the organization’s statute and arbitrarily expelled its members, as well as set up such organizational structures as resource, expert-analytical centers and youth club.

Because of these conclusions, the court ruled to liquidate the public association Civil Initiatives. The organization’s leadership and its attorney consider the judicial ruling to be biased and are readying to file a counter-appeal to the country’s Supreme Court.