No repeal of criminal article for unregistered organizations

Representatives of the NGO Assembly came to the “house of representatives” on September 1.

They were interested if the parliament would repeal article 193.1 of the Criminal Code. This article forbids activity of unregistered organization and provides for severe punishment for their members. The law is also among main claims of the European Union to Belarus in human rights sphere.

Yuheny Melnikau, a member of the Standing Commission on Human Rights, didn’t give definite answer to the activists, lawyer Yury Chavusau, a participant of the event, told Euroradio.

“We expected this result. We didn’t get anything clear from the commission representative. We heard just careful words that the article should perhaps be cancelled,” Yury Chavusau said.

According to Chaus, the MP even failed to answer where the issue on repeal of the article was considered. By the way, MPs planned to reconsider the article earlier.