Unregistered NGOs speak out against secret comission :: Charter'97 :: News

Representatives of unregistered Belarusian human rights organizations urge the Belarusian authorities to dismiss the Commission for registration of NGOs and to start developping a new law on NGOs. NGO representatives claim that the commission “performs the functions of political censorship” and consists of representatives of KGB, Ministry of Justice, Security Council and other law enforcement agencies. It has reportedly been operating secretly, and representatives of the NGOs in question are not admitted to its hearings. Moreover, the dates of its sessions have been kept secret as well.

The letter to the Minister of Justice Galavanau was signed by members of “Legal Protection of Citizens”, “Association of NGOs “Assembly”, “Helsinki-XXI” and “Veras”
The authorities have been denying reistration to many NGOs for several years on various pretexts.
NGO representatives claim they have no access to Law, as far as they can’t complain against rulings of this commission in court because it is not a legal entity and can not appear in court as a respondent.