Presidential Administration bounces report on discrimination of Belarusian language

Administration of the President again left without consideration the report of the Salihorsk BHC representatives regarding the observance of the rights of Belarusian-speaking citizens in the area, which they sent to the office of the President after correcting the formal defects.

The situation was commented on by the local representative of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and coordinator of the work on the report Leanid Markhotka:

“Earlier, the reports was repeatedly sent to the Presidential Administration and other government agencies on my behalf as the official representative of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee in the region and coordinator of work on the report. The latter ones had no comments on this matter and filed their answers on the merits of the report. The former, however, seemed to be dissatisfied with my powers,” says the human rights activist. “I believe that if the Presidential Administration was concerned primarily with the rights of Belarusian-speaking citizens, they would have sent me an answer long ago. After all, nothing prevents them from pointing me at the necessity to observe some minor formalities in the future.”

As said by Mr. Markhotka, the report has been again sent to the Presidential Administration. This time it was signed personally by the head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, printed at the organization blank and stamped with its seal. Thus, human rights activists hope to eventually receive a reply from the Presidential Administration on the merits of the issues raised.