MTZ Palace of Culture thwarted oppositional congress because of Lyavon Volski

The trial in the action of the organizing committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party to the administration of the Palace of Culture of Minsk Tractor Plant (MTZ) is to continue on April 16.

BelaPAN has been informed about that by the executive secretary of the organizing committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party (BCD) Dzyanis Sadouski.

As said by him, on April 2 in the court of Partyzanski district the session of the trial in the action of the BCD against the MTZ Palace of Culture started. According to the BCD representatives, the administration of the Palace of Culture intentionally thwarted the final part of the BCD congress, which was held on December 17, 2011 there. In this connection representatives of the organizing committee filed a suit.

“At 5.30 p.m. on a personal order of the MTZ Palace of Culture director light was cut off in the assemble hall where the congress was held. Meanwhile, the rent had been paid in time and completely till 7 p.m. A well-known Belarusian musician Lyavon Volski was to start his performance at that moment, but as soon as he entered the stage, electricity was cut off,” Sadouski said.

The organizing committee of the BCD demands “compensation of financial damage caused by the MTZ Palace of Culture directorate by cutting off light.” Representatives of the organizing committee planned to resolve the dispute in a pre-trial procedure, however the directorate of the Palace of Culture claims that they had followed all the articles of rent agreement on December 17, and refused to make any compensations. It should be noted that the BCD demands 2 mln 94 thousand 44 Belarusian rubles from the MTZ Palace of Culture.

As informed by Sadouski, today the statements of the sides were heard in the court. “The lawyer of the MTZ Palace of Culture stated that we had an intention to hold a commercial concert, which program had not been coordinated with the MTZ Palace of Culture directorate. And we say that Volski was simply to support the congress of the BCD, and add to the festive atmosphere. We had not sold any tickets to that event, so it could not be considered a commercial concert,” the BCD executive secretary said.

Representatives of the both sides appeared before the court on April 2. “Our witnesses confirmed that they had not bought any tickets for the concert. The MTZ Palace of Culture was represented only by a cloakroom attendant who said that she placed coats of the congress delegates separately, and the last jacket was given back at 7.20 p.m. According to the MTZ Palace of Culture it means that the light had not been cut off I the assembly hall,” Sadouski said.

“Even if we violated the law somehow, the directorate of the Palace of Culture should not have switched off the light. Firstly, we have paid for that and it was stipulated by the lease arrangement. Secondly, only after our violation would be confirmed in accordance with the law, they would be able to push their claims,” Sadouski said.