MINELRES: Belarus: Justice Ministry Reprimands "Union of Poles"

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Original sender: Felix Corley <fcorley@ndirect.co.uk>
            

CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
August 25, 2003
www.charter97.org


Justice Ministry Reprimands "Union of Poles in Belarus"

The Ministry of justice issued a written reprimand to the Chief Council
of the "Union of Poles in Belarus". The Poles were notified of the
possible liquidation of their public organization. The Justice
Ministry's letter mentions the alleged violation of laws "On tongues"
and "On public organizations". For instance, they say that the Union is
carrying out some of its paperwork in the Polish language and that some
unregistered structures are operating within its framework".

The text of the reprimand was signed by deputy Justice Minister Petrash.
Now the Council has to correct all the drawbacks, "as far as the Justice
Ministry has plenty of grounds to demand liquidation of the organization
through court".

"All documentation, which we present to the official bodies, is prepared
in Belarusian or Russian languages. Our internal documentation is
written in Polish," - said deputy chairman of the "Union of Poles in
Belarus" Juseph Pozhetsky.

Pozhetsky points out that such a right is bestowed upon them by the Law
on national minorities. As concerns the letterheads and a stamp, all of
them are composed in both Polish and Belarusian languages.

Juseph Pozhetsky assumes that they are seeking to either liquidate or at
least scare the existing public organizations.

The Poles will stand for their rights anyway. They addressed for help
the Polish embassy and consulates. And they may also file a petition to
the Supreme Court in order to protest against the written reprimand,
passed against them by the Ministry of justice.