BHC is to be left in peace, isn’t it? :: Charter'97 :: News

The ministry of justice applied to the Supreme Court of Belarus for terminating the lawsuit on termination of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee’s (BHC) activity. The public association “takes all possible steps for solution of the legal collision”, it was reported at the ministry.

The ministry of justice once again suggested to the management of the BHC “to remove violations of the legislation and liquidate the debt in budget payments demanded by the tax inspection”. It is to be mentioned that economic sanctions and additional payments totaling Br 155 million were imposed on the association. The human rights defenders were blamed of non-payment of taxes in the frame of the TACIS assistance program.

It is t be mentioned that the ministry of justice forwarded a written warning to the BHC in February 2006 and demanded to remove the legislation violations. However, the association didn’t meet the requirements in due time and the ministry of justice lodged the claim on termination of the BHC activity for 3 months to the Supreme Court.

The BHC, in its turn, appealed the tax bodies actions to the Higher Economic Court which confirmed the validity of the tax bodies actions. The Supreme Court terminated consideration of the ministry of justice’s claim for this period.

In November 2006 the Minsk City Court decided to confiscate the arrested properties of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee.

In December 2006 the chief economic department for economic affairs of President of the Republic of Belarus notified the Belarusian Helsinki Committee’s of termination of the contract on office leasing and submitted the order for its vacating until 20 January 2007. Nevertheless, 31 January 2007 the leasing contract was extended for a year.

The Belarusian authorities ‘actions towards the BHC were condemned by the world public.