Ministry of Justice Issues warnings to Six Political Parties

Today the justice ministry has submitted a warning to Zialionyia (Green) Belarusian Party, Belarusian Social-Democratic Party (Hramada), Belarusian People’s Front Party, the Social Democratic Party of People’s Consent, Belarusian Social Sportive Party and the Republican Party. According to the declaration of the justice ministry, it is stipulated by the law that the political parties must have the Minsk city structure and regional structures in no less than four regions.

The justice ministry declares that despite of the warnings and requirements the above-mentioned parties have not created the required number of organizational structures, yet. If they continue ignoring the law, the issue may be raised on suspension of their activities or on their termination by the court judgment.

The BNF Party objects to the ministry‘s resolution. ‘We regard the fact from the political and not legal viewpoint. I think the preparation for parliamentary elections is underway. We attempted to register our organizational structures in the Hrodna and Homel regions but the local authorities put pressure upon the premises owners and we could not provide the domiciles .Thus, it is as if in the ‘vicious circle’ - they demand registration and at the same time interfere with it. The given warning totally complies with the authorities’ strategy of political campaigns. On the eve of the parliamentary elections of 2004 the public organizations and human rights centers were terminated. The same thing happened in 2001. This time the first signal was given by terminating activities of the Party of Communists Belarusian. Now the turn of other three parties has come,’ commented the chairman of the legal commission of the BNF Party Uladzimir Labkovich.

Over 2006-2007 period that is the third warning made to the BNF Party and the party faces the real threat of its termination.