US Condemns Belarusian Regime for Evicting Human Rights Activists :: Charter'97 :: News

The George W. Bush administration has condemned the ruling of the Belarusian government according to which Belarusian Helsinki Committee is to vacate its premises, which would cause “closure of the most important non-governmental organization on human rights in this country”. This latest blow by the Belarusian authorities on the independent civil society highlights a constant deterioration of the situation in the sphere of human rights in this country, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormak said.

Demanding the Belarusian authorities to reverse that decision, the Department of State of the United States urged Belarusian government to execute its international commitments in the framework of the Helsinki agreement of 1975 on respect to human rights and fundamental freedoms, RIA Novosti informs.

In November this year Minsk court ruled to confiscate distrained property of Belarusian Helsinki Committee. Human rights activists were charged with non-payment of taxes in the framework of the TACIS aid program.

Besides, the Supreme Soviet resumed a case initiated by Justice Ministry on suspension of activities of the committee which marked its 10-year anniversary last year.