On behalf of the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights I would like to express my deepest concern for the lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Justice in the Republic of Belarus, claiming the liquidation of the Belarusian Non-Governmental Organisation Human Rights Center Viasna.

Since June 2003, as many as six Non-Governmental Organisations have been liquidated in Belarus. All of them have been liquidated for alleged administrative irregularities. The Swedish Helsinki Committee believes the real reason behind the liquidations to be purely political. Thus, the liquidation suit against the Human Rights Center Viasna, which is also based on allegations of administrative irregularities, is clearly part of a harassment campaign directed against Non-Governmental organisations in the country, orchestrated by the Belarusian authorities. This state repression of Human Rights defenders is unacceptable.

Therefore, the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights strongly urge that Belarusian authorities immediately cease the persecution of Non-Governmental Organisations and that the liquidation suit against the Human Rights Center Viasna is revoked.

The Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights will refer this issue to the Swedish Parliament, Swedish Government and Swedish mass media.

Sincerely,
Robert Hardh
Secretary General

President of the Republic of Belarus
Karl Marx Street 38
220030 Minsk
Republic of Belarus

Cc: Head of the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly
Savetskaya Street 11
220010 Minsk, Republic of Belarus

Minister of Justice
Kalektarnaya Street 10
220004 Minsk, Republic of Belarus
Head of the Supreme Court
Lenin Street 28
220681 Minsk, Republic of Belarus

The Belarusian Ambassador to Sweden
Mr. Aleg V. Yermalovich
Herserudsvagen 5, 4tr.
181 34 Lidingo, Sweden