News on the topic: freedom of association
18.02.2014 Number of registered NGOs in 2013 lowest since 2005
The Ministry of Justice has summed up the results of the past year’s registration of public associations and foundations. In 2013, 70 new associations were registered (2 international, 11 national and 57 local ones), one association of NGOs, 11 foundations (1 international and 10 local).
13.02.2014 Andrei Sannikau addresses Israeli PM
The leader of the civil campaign European Belarus comments on the scandalous remark by the Israeli diplomat. “Amb. Chagall has to be immediately recalled from Belarus for his unacceptable statements on political prisoners,” Andrei Sannikau wrote on Twitter addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
03.02.2014 Brest “For Freedom” coordinator sues Ministry of Culture
Brest coordinator of the Movement "For Freedom" Dzianis Turchaniak trying to challenge the actions of the Ministry of Culture of Belarus, which coordinated the project documentation and issued a permit for the construction of a road bridge at the Brest Fortress.
20.01.2014 HRHN members call upon President Yanukovych to veto law violating rights
In their joint letter to President Viktor Yanukovych, members of the Human Rights House Network (HRHN) call upon him to veto a law adopted by the parliament on 16 January 2014 violating most fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as basic rights to associate and work for a non-governmental organisation, including the right to be a human rights defender.
15.01.2014 “Backawscyna” and Belarusian Language Socitety are deprived of rent preferences
In Belarus, there are about 3,000 non-governmental organizations. Until recently, significant benefits for the rental of premises (90 % discount) were given to 451 organizations. This year's list of the lucky ones was drastically reduced. The list of beneficiaries is composed after consultation with the president.
08.01.2014 Brest authorities refuse to register NGO because of its name
Main Department of Justice of the Brest Regional Executive Committee refused to register the educational association "Brest Christian Democrats". According to the reply, received by Chairman of the organizing committee of the NGO Dzmitry Shurkhai , the lawyers of the executive committee are of the opinion that the organization name does not meet the definition of a public association.
19.12.2013 “Champions of civil society” to be awarded on December 23
The fifth annual awards ceremony of the Assembly of Democratic NGOs “Champions of Civil Society” will be held on December 23 in Minsk. The prize will be awarded to outstanding individuals, organizations and events that have been essential to the development of the Belarusian third sector in 2013.
09.12.2013 Two pickets dated to Human Rights Day banned in Vitsebsk
The formal reason is usual, the absence of the contracts for serving the events. The activists tried to enter into the needed service agreements with the appropriate agencies two months before the planned action, but the city's polyclinic and the regional police department refused to do it.
06.12.2013 No space for independent NGOs and opposition at city conference in Babruisk
The local media reported about the city conference, which, as it turned out, was held in late November and was attended by public associations, which presented their activities.
04.12.2013 Appeal on the case of the association of Baranavichy Ukrainians to be held on 23 December
The head association of Baranavichy Ukrainians "Kobzar" Mikalai Charnavus received a letter from Baranavichy City and District Court, signed by the deputy chairman of the court S. Snezhka and judge M. Selmanovich, in which it is stated that the consideration of his appeal will be held by the Board on Civil Cases of the Brest Regional Court at 11.00 a.m. on 23 December in Savetskikh Pamezhnikau Street, 41.
05.11.2013 Baranavichy: public activists hold a cleanup near the cross in the memory of victims of Stalin's repressions
Following their tradition, representatives of the Baranavichy NGOs organizations and political parties held the cleanup on 2 November 2013, the “Dziady” (“Forefathers Eve”) holiday in the park near the Cross in the memory of victims of Stalinist repressions of 1939-1953, at the intersection of Pirahou and Slalenskaya Streets. Earlier, there was the prison “Kryvoye Kola” (“Crooked Wheel”), where many people were killed, and in 1992 civil society activists set the memorial cross in its place.
01.11.2013 Association of Ukrainians «Kabzar» is trying to get premises for legal address through court
On 1 November the head of the Association of the Baranavichy Ukrainians "Kabzar" Mikalai filed a complaint with the Brest Regional Court against the ruling of Judge Mikalai Selmanovich for 24 October 2013.
30.10.2013 "Viasna": 10 years without registration
Human rights defender Uladzimir Labkovich remembers well October 28, 2003, when the Supreme Court put an end to the registration of "Viasna". How is it that the decision put an end to the activities of the human rights defenders?
25.10.2013 Baranavichy court denies Ukrainian minority’s right to premises
On October 24, the Court of Baranavichy district and the city of Baranavichy continued to hear a complaint against the executive committee filed by local civil society activist Mikalai Charnavus.
23.10.2013 Brest Regional Court turns down appeal against prosecutor's warning over illegal NGO membership
Brest Regional Court dismissed a complaint filed by a civil society activist from the town of Belaaziorsk Aliaksandr Kuzmin to contest the actions of the prosecutor of Biaroza district and the Brest Regional Prosecutor’s Office. Judge Alena Kavalchuk supported the decision of prosecutors who had issued a warning for activity on behalf of the unregistered organization, the "Tell the Truth" movement.
