BCD organizing committee: Congress to be held outdoors if we won’t be able to rent premises

The congress is planned for June 13. In advance applications for renting premises had been sent to 13 organisations, including the Houses of Culture of MAZ and MTZ, the Youth Variety Theatre, the Central House of Officers, the Palace of Culture of Railway Workers, the Small Hall of the Palace of Republic, Minsk International Educational Centre, Renaissance Hotel, the concert hall in Matusevich Street, the House of Literary Workers, as well as the Republican Arts Gallery in Kazlou Street, 3.

As BelaPAN was informed by the secretary of the BCD organizing committee Dzianis Sadouski. 10 organisations had already denied offering for lease their premises. He also said that the organisers addressed Minsk city executive committee with a request to render assistance in renting premises for the congress. However the official answer signed by the deputy chairman of the city executive committee Ihar Karpenka it is said that “a search for premises for such events is outside the competence of Minsk city executive committee.” “Though in 2011 it was Minsk city executive committee that after a detailed letter sanctioned holding a founding congress of the organisation in the Palace of Culture of MTZ,” added the secretary of the organizing committee.

He stressed that “the BCD is the only Christian Democratic party of Europe, which is not registered.” “We are preparing addresses to Christian Democrats of Europe with a request to exert pressure on the authorities of Belarus, for them not to interfere with leasing out premises and guaranteeing the right for freedom of association,” Sadouski informed.

It should be noted that it is the fifth attempt to register the BCD. The first founding congress was held in 2009, two more were held in 2010. The last attempt to be registered took place in December 2001, but was futile as all the previous ones.