Regime in Belarus brings back practice of criminal prosecution for acting on behalf of unregistered organisation
On 22 October 2012 coordinator of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party in Mahileu, Mr. Aleh Askionau, was called to KGB, where he was registered for “acting on behalf of an unregistered organisation”. “They warned me that it was the first step towards instituting legal proceedings. They showed me printings from media, where I was mentioned as a BCD activist and as a coordinator of the “For Free Elections” campaign. But they didn’t give me any of those”, – Aleh Aksionau told.
According to the co-chairman of BCD, Vital Rymasheuski, the authorities will cleanse the political field for pro-government organisations. “A cleansing of the political field for pro-regime parties is happening. It is clear what Lukashenka meant when he stated that we had “favorable conditions for political parties’ development”. As before, the authorities will try to cleanse oppositional organisations, which are not loyal to the regime and come out against the order offered by the regime”.
The regime is going to keep in Belarus only the organisations which are loyal, Vital Rymasheuski pointed out. “The authorities four times illegally refused to register the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party. The regime is planning on returning the practice of criminal prosecution for acting on behalf of an unregistered organisation”.
Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus establishes criminal responsibility for participation in the activities of an unregistered political party, foundation, civil or religious organisation, and envisages two years of imprisonment for such activities.
