Authorities Demand Explanations from Political Parties
The Justice Ministry of Belarus has demanded explanations from the United Civil Party, the Party of Communists Belarusian and Belarusian People’s Front concerning the participation of their leaders in the unsanctioned protest rally of small businessman on 10 January. Such explanations must be given to the ministry by 14 January.
On 12 January the deputy Justice Minister Aliaksandr Bileichyk has sent a letter of request to the National Committee of the United Civil Party.
In its address the Justice Ministry demands to give information whether the party empowered Anatol Liabedzka to take part in that mass rally, the press-service of the party reports. Similar papers were received by the other two parties.
‘If yes, copies of the minutes with the decision should be provided’, the address states. ‘Otherwise the official position of the party towards the actions of its first person should be expressed. Besides, the information concerning involvement of the UCP in holding of this event should be officially disseminated, as well as via mass media.’
The Justice Ministry has demanded to give explanations concerning the use of the United Civil party’s flag by participants of the rally.
The claim of the Ministry of Justice concerning participation of the United Civil Party head Anatol Liabedzka in the protest rally of entrepreneurs can become a beginning of the formal procedure of liquidation of the party. Yaraslau Ramanchuk, deputy head of the UCP does not rule out such a variant.
‘If Lukashenka gives an order to close down the party, it will be closed down’, he noted.
Ramanchuk considers such actions of the Ministry of Justice as a part of the continuing campaign of pressure of the oppositional parties by the authorities. Especially in the light of the resent claim demanding to close the Party of Communists Belarusian, sent to the Supreme Court, AFN reports.
Bear in mind that the Ministry of Justice of Belarus demand the UCP, the PCB and the Belarusian Popular Front to explain why they had participated in the action taken place in Minsk on 10 January. Representatives of a number of public associations and political partiers, including the leader of the UCP, the PCB, and the BPF Party, took part in the event.
In this connection the Ministry of Justice demands to ‘give information if these persons were authorized to participate in the mentioned mass event and give the corresponding party decisions within 3 days’.
