Vitsebsk regional BCD assembly disrupted by authorities
The regional assembly of the Belarusian
Christian Democracy was disrupted as a number of regional activists
were unable to take part in it, being summonsed to work at the
weekend.
"The regime staged a provocation, as the people
were urgently summonsed to work in a number of district
organizations, though today is a day-off. Evidently, the aim is to
prevent them from taking part in the regional assembly of the
Vitsebsk city organization. That's how obstacles are staged.
Doubtlessly, the authorities have no intention to give a legal status
to the regional associations. Nevertheless, we hold such assemblies,
as far as the BCD activities are entirely legal and such assemblies
witness that legal grounds are not the real reason why the
authorities refuse to register the party," commented the
co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Vital
Rymasheuski.
According to him, BCD members from Navapolatsk
and Lepel were urgently summonsed to work without any preliminary
notification. Regional KGB officers also pressurize BCD activists,
threatening them with "trouble" for taking part in such
assemblies.
Mr. Rymasheuski also stressed that the BCD would
continue the attempts to legalize its activities despite of the
numerous registration denials issued by the Ministry of Justice.