Justice Ministry Finds 6th Assembly of Union of Poles Illegal

12.05.2005.

On 12 May it became known that the Ministry of Justice found illegal the sixth assembly of the public association Union of Poles in Belarus that took place in Hrodna two months ago.

Alieh Slizheuski, chair of the board of public associations of the Ministry of Justice, confirmed this information in a telephone talk with the deputy chair of the Union of Poles in Belarus. He also added that the text of this decision was sent to the headquarters of the union. It means that the assembly decisions and the new administration that was elected there lose their power.

According to unconfirmed information, the Ministry of Justice explains its decision with the fact that during the last two months members of the Union of Poles in Belarus submitted many complaints to the ministry, pointing at alleged mass violations during nomination of delegates to the assembly from district branches. It is emphasized even that people who weren’t delegates voted at the assembly. In this respect the fact that during the whole assembly representatives of Hrodna regional administration and the Polish Embassy is quite interesting.

Now the Ministry of Justice recommends the former chair of the Union of Poles Tadevush Kruchkouski (whom the new head of the union Andzhelika Borys charged with theft of the organizational documentation) to hold a new assembly within two-weeks’ term. Andzhelika Borys also stated to Hrodna journalists that she was elected democratically and that the new administration of the union is strongly pressurized by Belarusian authorities. She also promised to take all possible efforts to normalize the activity of the Union of Poles in Belarus.

The administration of the Union of Poles in Belarus with Andzelina Borys at the head intends to start acting on receiving the text of the decision of the Ministry of Justice.