BSDP (NH) appealed to the Constitutional Court, the Ministry of Justice and the Minister himself protesting against the impossibility to freely act in accordance with the party charter.

31.03.2005

https://spring96.org/en/news/13476 2005 2005-03-31T10:00:00+0300 2005-03-31T10:00:00+0300 1970-01-01T03:00:00+0300 en The Human Rights Center “Viasna” The Human Rights Center “Viasna” The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

The appeals have emerged owning to the disrupted regular congress of the party on 19 March this year.
The BSDP (NH) appeal to the Constitutional Court signed by Party Chair A.Liaukovich says that these “actions flagrantly violate the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus (Articles 21, 22, 33, 35, 36, 59) and the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Political Parties”. Also, Article 194 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus was violated”. Acting on behalf of all BSDP (NH) members, the Executive Bureau demanded that the case be scrutinized by competent authorities with those behind the illegal actions brought to account.
A similar letter sent to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus noted that “state registration of political parties conducted by the Ministry of Justice does not ensure that the parties can freely act in accordance with their charter-stated mission”.
The appeal to the Minister of Justice argues that what happened on 19 March was caused exclusively by the interference of the power structures. “As is well known this is not the first time the authorities have banned the heads of state- and privately-owned institutions to lease unoccupied premises to parties for holding party events.
In view of the above, we would like to ask Mr. Minister the following questions:
1. Where and in which premises in Minsk or other cities of Belarus can political parties hold their congresses, plenums, conferences and other events provided for by their charters and allowed by law?
2. Will the party act in conformity with the Belarusian legislation and the demands of the Ministry of Justice, when organizing a party congress on a forest clearing or an empty beach in compliance with all environmental requirements?
3. Will a congress held outside Belarus, say in Moscow, Kyiv, Vilnius or London, comply with the Belarusian legislation?” , says the appeal of the BSDP (NH).