Department of Presidential Affairs Grants Office to BHC :: Charter'97 :: News

The main economic board of the Department of Presidential Affairs has extended the tenancy agreement with the republican pubic association “Belarusian Helsinki Committee”. The Charter’97 press-center has been informed about that by the Chairperson of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Tatsyana Protska. Today she had a meeting with the acting head of the main economic board of the Department of Presidential Affairs Mikhail Belyaeu.

As said by the human rights activist, the tenancy agreement concerning the premises in Karl Marx Street 68 in Minsk has been prolonged for a year. Now the organization has a legal address and does not face liquidation.

“We had a conversation with the acting head of the economic board of the Department of Presidential Affairs Mikhail Belyaeu. He told that maybe we are not the best renters, but the agreement had been extended for one more year,” Tatsyana Protska said.

As we have informed, in December 2006 the main economic board of the Department of Presidential Affairs informed the Belarusian Helsinki Committee about termination of the contract on renting the office and delivered the order for its vacating before January 20, 2007.

In November 2006, Minsk court ruled to confiscate distrained property of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee. Human rights activists were charged with non-paying taxes on the assets received under the TACIS 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.

International human rights defence community has condemned the steps of the Belarusian regime against the Belarusian Helsinki Committee.