Belarusian capital authorities permit opposition to hold congress :: Charter'97 :: News

The Minsk city government has officially permitted Belarus`s opposition groups to hold a conference in Minsk on 1-2 October, at which around 800 delegates are expected to name a single challenger to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenka in next year`s presidential election.

A written notification received by the organizing committee for the national congress of pro-democratic forces on 16 September, which was signed by Mikhail Pyatrushyn, deputy chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee, designates the Palace of Culture of the Minsk Automobile Factory as the venue for the Congress, Alyaksandr Bukhvostaw, head of the organizing committee, told Belapan on Saturday [17 September].

The city government does not set any limits on the number of participants. "It is up to the organizers to decide on this," he said.

A preliminary agreement that the congress would be held in the Palace of Culture was reached with the director of the palace on 13 September. A two-day lease is expected to be signed within the following week.

The organizers will have to pay some 8m roubles (3,720 dollars).