Let's demonstrate solidarity with Elena Talkachova: petition state bodies with the request to refrain from expelling the human rights activist from the country

The Human Rights Centre “Viasna” joins the call of our colleagues from the Center for Legal Transformation Lawtrend to direct petitions to the state agencies with the request not to expel human rights activist Elena Tonkacheva from Belarus.

Dear friends, our colleague, the Chair of the Board of the Center for Legal Transformation Lawtrend Elena Tonkacheva is a citizen of the Russian Federation, residing in the Republic of Belarus since 1985. October 30, 2014, she received a notice of cancellation of her residence in the Republic of Belarus. The question of her expulsion from the country will be considered on November 5. Many of you know Yelena as a highly qualified professional and a good person, always ready to help. For more than 20-years' work in the third sector, Elena has helped many people, the organization she heads has consulted a large number of non-profit organizations and conducted a large number of educational events and programs for students.

Show solidarity: write an application to the Office of Citizenship and Migration of Interior Affairs Department and the Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Pershamaiski Police Department of Minsk with the request not to expel Elena from the country and restore her residence permit.

You can send your petitions in several ways:

1) to bring the petition to the Office of Citizenship and Migration of Interior Affairs Department (Nezalezhnasts Avenue, 48B) and the Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Pershamaiski District Police Department of Minsk (Belinsky st., 10) and get it registered (mail letters are unlikely to reach the addressees before November 5);

2) sign the petition at the office of the Center for Legal Transformation (Navavilenskaya st., 38-10) as well as at the offices of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" (Miarzhynski st., 8-26), and the Belarusian Popular Front (Chernyshevsky st., 3-39);

3) fax the petition to the Office of Citizenship and Migration of the Main Police Bureau of the Minsk City Executive Committee (fax +375 17 331-81-68) and Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Pershamaiski District Police Department of Minsk (fax + 375 17 280-01-62).

We will also be grateful for the collection of signatures in your organizations.
Please note that the appeals cannot be anonymous.

On behalf of Lawtrend

Director of the Center for Legal Transformation

Volha Smalianka


Sample application:

To:
Office of Citizenship and Migration of the Main Police Bureau of the Minsk City Executive Committee, Minsk, Nezalezhnasts Ave., 48B.

Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Pershamaiski District Police Department of Minsk,
Minsk, Belinsky st., 10.


PETITION

We, citizens of …., apply to you with the request not to take decision for expulsion of a citizen of the Russian Federation, Tonkacheva Elena Borisovna, from the Republic of Belarus, and consider the question of restoring the residence permit for her.

We know Tonkacheva E.B. as an honest, decent, highly moral person who enjoys great respect from friends and colleagues. Her expulsion from the territory of the Republic of Belarus will be a great loss for Belarus country and for all of us, both personally and professionally.

While considering the question of the expulsion and the ability to restore citizenship Tonkacheva E.B., please note the following:

Tonkacheva E.B. has permanently resided in the Republic of Belarus since 1985, graduated from school college and a higher education institution here;

has a permanent place of work in the Republic of Belarus, a stable income and pays taxes to the budget of the Republic of Belarus;

the organization where Tonkacheva E.B. works, needs her as a skilled professional;

she has property in the Republic of Belarus;

the daughter of Tonkacheva E. B. is a citizen of the Republic of Belarus;

Tonkacheva E.B. has not committed a crime or other socially dangerous act, her actions do not cause damage to the national security of the Republic of Belarus.

Please note all aforementioned facts together, don't expel Tonkacheva E.B. from the Republic of Belarus and revoke the decision to cancel her residence permit.

Date: Surname, signature______________