Human rights activists don’t believe authorities will remove “political” articles from Criminal Code

• 25.09.2009, 18:28

The Belarusian Ministry of Justice says responsibility provided by article 193-1 of the Criminal Code may be changed, but the article will remain.

Human rights activists insist on full an unconditional cancelling article 193-1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus providing responsibility for activity on behalf of unregistered organization.

Human rights activist Valyantsin Stefanovich told this on September 24 at a briefing dedicated to the situation with NGOs.

“We still think this article contradicts the Constitution of Belarus, which guarantees the freedom of assembly, and international legal pacts, in particular, the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Belarus,” Stefanovich said.

According to Stefanovich, NGO “Civil Belarus”, registered in the Czech Republic, has received a letter from deputy minister of justice Ihar Tushynski, who informed that the Ministry of Justice studies an opportunity to change article 193-1. “In particular, he says it is planned to change criminal responsibility to administrative one,” Stefanovich said.

But the human rights activist noted that the old administrative code had article 167-10, providing a fine or administrative arrest up to 15 days for activity on behalf of unregistered organization.

“In this situation, change of responsibility in article 193-1 can’t be discussed. This article wil violate the Constitution because it provides responsibility regardless to a form of activity. any responsibility for activity on behalf of unregistered organization, if it is not dangerous for the people of Belarus, is unacceptable for us,” Stefanovich stated.