Or how ‘the improper Freedom’ stains the image of ‘the true democracy’ in the Belarusian Constitution…
(in continuation of the conversation on the issues covered in the article ‘The Freedom of Speech… in the International and Belarusian Legal Context’)
While the post-Soviet countries of the European Partnership are starting their trip towards the European Union, Belarus, just like 10-12 years ago, is stagnant and absolute predictable stability in the civil and political area…
However, this time, we will try to analyze but one, purely legal issue and see whether all’s well in our Kingdom, as it is advertized by ‘highly appointed’ or, should we say, ‘highly anointed’ persons of the country…
So, why does the Belarusian Constitution limit the freedom of thought and conscience… and belief (their free individual or public dissemination and distribution), set out in Part 1 of Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as the freedom of thought, conscience and religion, to mere Freedom of religion and the right ‘to profess any religion individually or jointly with others, or to profess none at all, to express and spread beliefs connected with one’s attitude towards religion’ (Article 31)?! Continue reading »
Administrative responsibility can be introduced in Belarus in addition to the existing criminal liability for distribution of extremist materials. This legal norm is contained in the Belarusian draft law “On Introduction of Supplements and Amendments to Certain Codes of Belarus on the Issues of Criminal and Administrative Responsibility,” the BelTA News Agency informs with a reference to the Standing Committee on Legislature, Judicial and Legal Issues at the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus. Continue reading »
On 9 May in Navapolatsk several skinheads attacked girls, activists of the local branch of the BNF Youth (youth organization of the Belarusian Popular Front party).
In the evening two students were on their way home from the university though a forest-park. The unknown stopped them at a far corner, took away their badges with national symbols, threatening with bodily harm. The girls immediately called up police, but they didn’t arrive.
Source: Charter`97
On 7 May people were detained in Mahilou at a concert played by Lyapis Trubetskoy, while the musicians were singing the song Belarus Freedom.
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As said by the lawyer of the political prisoner Pavel Sapelka, Mikalai Autukhovich calls on the people who are keeping the hunger-strike of solidarity with him to stop it. He thanks everybody for the support, but says that their health and youth are necessary to continue the struggle for democracy.
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On 6 May a co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Pavel Seviarynets and the responsible secretary of the party Dzianis Sadouski had a meeting with the justice minister Viktar Halavanau concerning registration of the party.
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Anatol Shumchanka
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