The administrative service of the President of Belarus has notified the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC), an affiliate of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, of the termination of the Committee´s office rental contract, and has ordered the Committee to vacate its office. Right, BHC´s Executive Director Oleg Hulak and Lawyer and Vice President Harry Pogonjalo. (25-JAN-07)
 
Based on a press release received from the UN-run news service of Human Rights Education Associats, this article has been edited for republication here by HRH F / Niels Jacob Harbitz. Photo: HRH F.

Almost all office buildings in Belarus are in possession of the administrative service of the President and NGOs must “negotiate” their allocation with the authorities. Losing a legal address by an NGO causes its liquidation as a legal entity.

Politically motivated
The BHC is free of debt for the rent and according to the law BHC has a preferential right to conclude another contract for renting the same premises because the Committee intends to rent it next year. For a month, BHC tried to retain the office, in which it has been registered and rendered legal aid to the population since 1998. But all its attempts failed despite available vacant premises in the same building and other buildings. The IHF and BHC consider the unwillingness of the renter to extend the lease as politically motivated and urge the authorities to prolong the lease. The BHC’s affiliation with the IHF will not be affected if the Committee loses its legal address or registration with the Ministry of Justice.

For more information:
Aaron Rhodes, IHF Executive Director, +43-(0)1-408 88 22 or +43-(676)-6356612
Dzmitry Markusheuski, BHC Press Officer, +375– 29 709 5702