Minsk City Court refuses to allow registration of “Malady Front”
The hearing of the case about the registration of a youth organization “Malady Front” ended on the evening of August 17. It was initiated by young people who wanted to legalize their organization. A human rights defender Alena Tankachova informs ERB about the trial:
“The judge agreed to all the arguments of the department of justice that were appealed by the initiators of the registration of “Malady Front”. I think that the court’s decision is a threatening example of interpretation of laws proving that the court is going to take any decision against the initiators of creation of the civil organization on the basis of any violation they may commit in the future.
I am really worried about the fact that the department of justice sends appeals about citizens, including the initiators of creation of “Malady Front” who were already prosecuted for their actions to the Ministry of Internal Affaires during the process of registration. The Ministry provides this information and the department takes its decisions depending on the possible anti-governmental activities of the organization in the future.
Commenting on the problem of “Malady Front” I would call it a regular trick: on the one hand young people are prosecuted for acting on behalf of an unregistered organization throughout the republic.
On the other hand they are not given the right to register their organization in spite of all their efforts. A question “What are they trying to achieve?” arises, because it creates conditions for social hostility and intolerance.
The result of the today’s hearing shows that any coming verdict according to article “Acting on behalf of an unregistered organization” concerning members of the youth organization will make the people forbidding it to gain a legal status responsible for it.
On the other hand: I am sure that the initiators of legalization of “Malady Front” will refer to the Court of Cassation (in this case it is the Supreme Court). If the Supreme Court does not cancel the decision of Minsk City Court they may turn to the UN human rights committee because it will be a direct violation of the responsibilities of the Republic of Belarus concerning guarantees of the freedom of associations, confirmed by the Treaty on civil and political rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Moreover, I am sure that such people as Nasta Loika (who presented the youth organization in court and demonstrated her professionalism while protecting the rights of “Malady Front”) will determine the future of Belarusian jurisprudence and justice.
Let us mind you that the reason for the refusal to register the organization was the fact that the department of justice thought that the organization would be carrying out illegal activities including street actions like meetings, processions and demonstrations if it was registered. “Malady Front” has tried to register twice this year – in May and in July. They got a refusal twice.
Photo by — www.mfront.net
“The judge agreed to all the arguments of the department of justice that were appealed by the initiators of the registration of “Malady Front”. I think that the court’s decision is a threatening example of interpretation of laws proving that the court is going to take any decision against the initiators of creation of the civil organization on the basis of any violation they may commit in the future.
I am really worried about the fact that the department of justice sends appeals about citizens, including the initiators of creation of “Malady Front” who were already prosecuted for their actions to the Ministry of Internal Affaires during the process of registration. The Ministry provides this information and the department takes its decisions depending on the possible anti-governmental activities of the organization in the future.
Commenting on the problem of “Malady Front” I would call it a regular trick: on the one hand young people are prosecuted for acting on behalf of an unregistered organization throughout the republic.
On the other hand they are not given the right to register their organization in spite of all their efforts. A question “What are they trying to achieve?” arises, because it creates conditions for social hostility and intolerance.
The result of the today’s hearing shows that any coming verdict according to article “Acting on behalf of an unregistered organization” concerning members of the youth organization will make the people forbidding it to gain a legal status responsible for it.
On the other hand: I am sure that the initiators of legalization of “Malady Front” will refer to the Court of Cassation (in this case it is the Supreme Court). If the Supreme Court does not cancel the decision of Minsk City Court they may turn to the UN human rights committee because it will be a direct violation of the responsibilities of the Republic of Belarus concerning guarantees of the freedom of associations, confirmed by the Treaty on civil and political rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Moreover, I am sure that such people as Nasta Loika (who presented the youth organization in court and demonstrated her professionalism while protecting the rights of “Malady Front”) will determine the future of Belarusian jurisprudence and justice.
Let us mind you that the reason for the refusal to register the organization was the fact that the department of justice thought that the organization would be carrying out illegal activities including street actions like meetings, processions and demonstrations if it was registered. “Malady Front” has tried to register twice this year – in May and in July. They got a refusal twice.
Photo by — www.mfront.net
