BCD to file complaint with UN against actions of Supreme Court and Ministry of Justice
On 9 April 2012 the Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD) leaders, Vital Rymasheuski (co-chairman) and Dzianis Sadouski (executive secretary) held a press conference with regard to the refusal of the Supreme Court of Belarus to consider the complaint of the Party in relation to the Ministry of Justice’ decision to deny legal registration to the BCD.
As Mr. Sadouski stated the formal reason for the refusal was the fact that the complaint was signed only by one person, who has the right to represent the BCD in court according to the decision of the BCD’s Constituent Congress. Such right was given to four persons and all of them should have signed the complaint according to the Supreme Court. However, the Belarusian law on political parties does not specify anywhere how many persons authorized to sign the complaint should actually put their signatures under the document.
Vital Rymasheuski noted that during the last attempt to register the BCD there was quite the opposite picture: “The third Constituent Congress of the BCD took place on 12 September 2010 in Minsk. On 30 October 2010 the BCD received the letter with the Justice Ministry’s decision to refuse us registration. On 1 December 2010 we have appealed against this decision in court. The court had a month to decide on this matter. After the peaceful protests on 19 December 2010 and massive arrests of opposition leaders and activists connected with the presidential elections one of the BCD co-chairs, Pavel Sieviarynets was in the KGB prison. We had sent a request to the Supreme Court to allow Mr. Sieviarynets to sign the complaint and to represent our party in the court. But then the Supreme Court said that his signature and presence were absolutely unnecessary for the court procedures. Now, it turns out, the Court makes a decision contrary to its previous decision”.
According to Vital Rymasheuski the BCD will appeal against the decision of the Supreme Court to the UN Human Rights Committee (OHCHR). “We will submit a complaint to the head of the Supreme Court. But we already know that to complain about the Supreme Court’s actions to its chairman is meaningless. Therefore, we will prepare a collective complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee on violation of the Belarusian citizens’ right to freedom of association,” he said.
The first attempt to register the BCD was made in 2009, two more – in 2010, the fourth – in 2011. Attempts to appeal against thedenials of registration in the court were all unsuccessful.
