Worker of “Amnesty International” Not Admitted to Belarus

The worker of the international secretariat of the human rights organization “Amnesty International” Heather Macgill (Great Britain) didn’t come to Belarus for celebration of the 10th anniversary of Belarusian movement of assistance to “Amnesty International”, because Belarusian Embassy in the UK delayed the issue of visa to Mrs. Macgill.

According to the leader of Belarusian initiative group Viachaslaw Bortnik, the technical obstacles to the human rights activist who deals with Belarus that didn’t let her attend the jubilee and get acquainted with members of the human rights group can’t be an accident in the light of the policy of Belarusian authorities.

The Ministry of Justice has recently denied members of the initiative group in registration in the capacity of a public association. At its sitting of members of the initiative group, held on 11 December in Homel, it was decided to try registering as a foundation. In 2004 the group also intends to join the campaign on prevention of violence against women, declared by “Amnesty International” for the upcoming year.

According to Mr. Bortnik, for the 10 years that have passed since the day when Belarusian movement of assistance to “Amnesty International” had been founded, similar initiative groups appeared in Minsk, Pinsk, Babruysk, Horadnia and other cities of the country.