Expulsion of Alena Tankachova delayed for one month

The Pershamaiski District Police Department of Minsk has extended by one month the residence registration for human rights defender Alena Tankachova, leader of the Center for Legal Transformation “Lawtrend”, according to Radio Liberty’s Belarus service.

“This is due to the fact that a complaint has been lodged against their actions. They proceed from the fact that they have an obligation from the supreme body to consider my complaint within one month and to make an appropriate decision on it. And now, they allow me to stay on the territory of Belarus for one more month,” explains the human rights defender.

According to a decision issued by the administration of Minsk’s Pershamaiski district, the human rights activist should have left Belarus November 30, without a right to return for a period of three years. Ms. Tankachova appealed against the decision of expulsion to the General Directorate of Internal Affairs of the Minsk City Executive Committee.

According to Alena Tankachova, in accordance with the Law “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Belarus”, submission of a complaint is an occasion to pause the expulsion for the period of its consideration.

On October 30, Alena Tankachova, director of the Center for Legal Transformation “Lawtrend”, received a notice of revocation of her residence permit and her possible deportation from the Republic of Belarus. On November 5, the Department of Internal Affairs of the administration of Minsk’s Pershamaiski district decided to expel Alena Tankachova from Belarus “in the interests of public order”. The formal reason for this was a traffic violation.

The human rights defender may face a ban on entry to Belarus for three years.