Human Rights Directorate of Caucasus Expresses Support to the Viasna and Other Belarusian NGOs

22.09.2003.

HUMAN RIGHTS DIRECTORATE OF CAUCASUS

20.09.2003

To President Alexander Lukashenka
President’s Office
Minsk 220010
Republic of Belarus
Tel/fax +375 17 2235 825

Dear Mr. President

On behalf of the Human Rights Directorate of Caucasus I address You with a serious concern about the large-scale campaign of persecution of the sructures of the civil society in Belarus.
Human Rights Directorate of Caucasus is an independent non-governmental organization monitoring human rights situationa and ensuring abidance by international norms and standarts in this field.
As we came to kbnow, The Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus is hearing liquidation cases of the following organizations:
Hrodna public association “Ratusha” (for publishing books, and for legal advice to citizens);
Public association “Human Rights Center “Viasna” (for monitoring the election process, and for representing interests of citizens in courts);
Public association “Legal Assistance to Public” (for rendering legal advice to citizens);
Public association “Kasiopea Foundation” (for cooperation with banned NGOs);
Public association “Women’s Answer” (for insubordination to orders of the Justice Ministry and non-provision of information about organization members);
Public association “Youth Initiatives center “Kontur” (for receiving foreign grants).
In conjunction with this, Human Rights Directorate of Caucasus expresses its definite support to the above mentioned non-governmental organizations. We think this violates the freedom of expression and freedom of associations in Belarus. We also urge the authorities of the Republic of Belarus to stop persecution of human rights defenders. We urge the authorities to follow their international obligations on human rights, failure to abide by which would put the aid programs, greeted by the governments committed to the principles of democracy and legal state, under threat.

Sincerely yours,

Kakhaber Gogashvili
Chairperson

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