Anzhalika Borys: The congress cannot be called democratic

29.08.2005.

The head of the Union of Poles in Belarus, elected the leader during the March 6th congress of the UPB, which was declared illegitimate by the Ministry of Justice, Anzhalika Borys expressed her opinion of the repeated congress of the Union of Poles: "When the congress takes place behind the closed doors, when no journalists are allowed inside, when people get detained on the road, when the Union of Poles members, who founded this organization, stand outside with the police blocking their way, when people are forced to attend the congress, when the authorities are behind the congress, orchestrating it, then I believe that the congres may be considered democratic only by the authorities not by the international standards", reported the chair of UPB in an interview with Radio Liberty.
As regards the newly elected chair, Ms Borys said that Iuzaf Luchnik, a founder of the UPB, will hardly be at the head of the organization, the real leader, because the council of the organization is mostly made up of rather abominable people. As regards further work, Anzhalika Borys said the following:
"I think we will continue with our work, we will continue to work in Belarus. The time will come when the human rights, and not only the rights of Poles, will not be violated in Belarus. All of this situation allowed me to meet people of different ethnic origin, who offered their solidarity. I think the situation will change. And we will work toward the rule of democracy in Belarus", said Anzhalika Borys.