Amnesty International called on Lukashenka to stop persecuting human rights activists

• 23.09.2009, 9:38

Amnesty International human rights organization sent a letter to Alyaksandr Lukashenka calling on him to register “Nasha Viasna” organization.

“Amnesty International believes further refusals to register “Nasha Viasna” Belarusian human rights organization are an attempt of the authorities to impede activities of human rights activists,” Telegraf quotes the statement.

“After a recent decision of the Supreme Court (on August 12, 2009, the court upheld the decision of the Ministry of Justice on refusal registration to “Nasha Viasna”) the leadership of “Nasha Viasna” expressed an intention to go on human rights activities in spite of a risk of legal prosecution under article 193.1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus,” the international human rights defenders note.

Amnesty International called on Alyaksandr Lukashenka to allow registration for “Nasha Viasna”, cancel article 193.1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus, providing responsibility for activity on behalf of an unregistered organization and “allow people to use the right for freedom of association”.