Head of embattled sociological center dismisses charges as absurd :: Charter'97 :: News

The justice ministry’s charges against the Independent Institute of Social Economic and Political Studies (IISEPS) are absurd, Oleg Manayev, head of the Minsk-based organization, said on Friday as the Supreme Court was preparing to announce its ruling in a controversial closure case.

According to him, six of the ten charges against the IISEPS have been dropped as a result of three court sessions.

Dr. Manayev held the news conference at the French embassy because the Minsk International Education Center (IBB), which had rented out offices to the IISEPS for four years, refused to prolong a contract at the end of last year.
The justice ministry wants the IISEPS closed down over what it describes as multiple irregularities.

Dr. Manayev said that the four remaining charges are failure to provide its questionnaire forms to the authorities, the use of an office different from its legal address, the use of a shortened name of the organization in the media ("NISEPI" instead of "ROO `NISEPI`”), and the establishment of the supervisory board, a body that is not mentioned in the Institute’s Charter.

Dr. Manayev stressed that by demanding questionnaire forms the justice ministry exceeded its authority and interfered in the internal affairs of his organization.

“The authorities are more interested to prevent unbiased information on what is going on in Belarus from reaching the public,” he stressed.
He added that following the October 2004 referendum and parliamentary elections the authorities shifted the focus of pressure from political opponents to the independent media and non-governmental organizations.

The Supreme Court is expected to announce its ruling on Friday evening.