Independent Society of Legal Research: Liquidated

29.01.2004.

Judge Aksana Budowskaya satisfied the suit of the justice board concerning the alleged repeated violations of the law “On Public Associations” and the organization statute by Independent Society of Legal Research. The independent lawyers think that the organization has been liquidated for active defense of the rights of other public associations at trials.

According to Radio “Liberty”, the consideration of the liquidation case at Minsk City Court took only several hours. The justice board of Minsk Executive Committee asked the court to liquidate the association for the violations of the law and the statute the organization members had repeatedly violated while defending the interests of other public associations in different regions of Belarus.

ISLR head Alena Tankachova thusly commented the court verdict: “I am convinced that the decision to liquidate us was taken for our active position in defense of the rights and legal interests of the public organizations at liquidation trials. There is only one official reason for our liquidation – participation in trials. Then I can say that our activity is legal, being a normal element within the tasks and goals of the organization. This is what we established it in 1996. Our liquidation shows in what time and country we are living”.

ISLR will complain against this verdict to the Supreme Court. However, the organization members don’t hope much for the victory. Alena Tankachova says that her colleagues are ready to work even without registration.

Information Department of HRC “Viasna”