Youth Association “Veras” Lost Case Regarding Warnings

The activists of the public association Veras did not manage to contend for the warning, submitted by the Department of Justice of Vitebsk region Executive Committee to the court on the results of a three months’ verification of the work of the organization.

One more fact, considered by the Department of Justice as violation of legislation, was the creation of a structural sub-division of a non-governmental organization – charitable Local Volunteer Centre.

During the court procedure the head of the youth public association Yaraslaw Mantsevich rejected all the accusations of the Department of Justice, referring to the fact that the organization was implementing all the provisions of their own Statute and Belarusian legislation.

The main expert of the registration legal sector of the Department of Justice Valery Shutaw did not agree with the position of the NGO and substantiated all the claims, expressed in the warning.
Let us remind you, in the end of March Veras received the first warning, issued on the result of the 3-months long check-up. Members of the NGO are sure, that the juridical control over their activities was recommended by the staff of the Information Department of city Executive Committee. The Information Department was unhappy about the results of the round table on international relations held in frames of the project “Equality. Tolerance. Respect”.
The observers point out, “generally, the court hearing looked like a trial over the NGO. That’s why the decision of Judge Tatsiana Parfionava was not a surprise.
“Veras” considers that the case was not considered in a proper way. They are going to complain about the warning to the Supreme Court of Belarus.