Warning Issued to Association Veras :: Charter'97 :: News

The Administration of Justice of Vitsebsk oblast executive committee has issued a written warning to the youth public association Veras. This decision was reached on the results of an inspection in the organization that lasted for more than three months. The main claims of the officials are the following: “Veras” had no right to organize a round table for discussing a problem of international relations in the region, and cannot carry out volunteer activities.

The round table was held in Vitsebsk on December 3, 2003 in the framework of the project “Equality. Tolerance. Respect”. Representatives of the national minorities, activists of local non-governmental organizations and journalists took place in it. After a round table the leadership of the public association “Veras” was summoned to the town executive committee and were asked to provide written explanations. Official of the information department Iryna Puchkova expressed her dissatisfaction, as some negative statements about the situation with national minorities in Vitsebsk region were heard during the discussion.

Another fact considered by the Administration of Justice as a violation of law is creation of local volunteer center (LVC) on the base of the organization. LVC is an organization department of Veras, where young people take part in charitable social activities.