Assembly of Belarusian NGOs speaks against deprival of Belarusian Popular Front of its Minsk office
Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs of Belarus
Board Assembly Democratic NGOs of Belarus issued a statement to express
its concern over the situation concerning the Minsk office of the Belarusian Popular Front
opposition party. The matter is that the utility services of the Savetski
district of Minsk refused to extend the rent agreement for the BPF office in Masherau Avenue, 8,
occupied by the party for over 20 years.
However, as noted in the statement of the Assembly of NGOs, "the
significance of this office for the public life of Belarus is hard to overestimate. It
is a center of cultural and socio-political activity where exhibitions,
artistic performances, concerts, presentations and meetings with creative
people take place.”
In this case, the Assembly of NGOs considers the
non-extension of the rent agreement only as an attempt to liquidate an island
of freedom in the Belarusian capital, as well as a severe blow to the civil
society in Minsk
and the whole country.
"We demand that the Minsk City Executive Committee extends
the rent agreement. Especially, for Masherov
Avenue, 8 are legal addresses several social and
political organizations and their organizational structures. This BPF, the Conservative
Christian Party - BPF, PA BPF. And the deprivation of the premises
and registered address can lead to the elimination of the mentioned
organizations. Such as, for example happened three years ago with the Brest historical and cultural association of "Old Town",
which had no permanent office space, "- said the head of the Executive
Office Sergei Lisichenok.
In its statement the Assembly draws attention to the fact
that such problems in Belarus
are systemic, which proves that the authorities interfere with activities of
public associations by creating promises with the rent of premises.
Thus, the Board of the Assembly of NGOs called on other
organizations and the international community for solidarity, because the BPF
office is one of the oldest centers of social activity in Belarus.
