Accordig to VIASNA the housing authorities of the city of Hrodna ordered Hrodna organization of Belarusian People’s Front to leave their office in Karl Marx Street. The head of Hrodna BPF organization Mikola Voran believes that such actions of Hrodna authorities create danger for the future existence of the organization. (11-JAN-05)
Allegedly, the house where the office is situated, needs serious repairs and there’s even the danger of its collapse otherwise. The head of Hrodna BPF organization Mikola Voran believes that such actions are a part of the clear-up connected to the future presidential election:
— For an organization deprival of juridical address means liquidation. It will be very difficult for BPF to find another juridical address.
Of course, this case is not the first one in the history of persecution of NGOs and political parties in Belarus. All of them are defenseless against check-ups of justice bodies and searches, conducted by organs of criminal prosecution. During the campaign on referendum and Parliamentary election in summer and autumn of 2004 offices of a number of organizations suffered from illegal searches and bursts of the police or secret services: Independent Institute for Social, Economic and Political Studies”, public initiative “Partnership”, the organization “Civil Initiatives”, the public initiative “Dzedzich”, offices of Frantsishak Skaryna Belarusian Language Society, Lew Sapieha Foundation, the office of “Young Front” in Zhodzina and the office of Human Rights Center “Viasna” in Brest.
