Belarusian “parliament” does not need 9 billion from Poland

Alyaksei Paulouski, a Mahilou-based activist of the independent Radioelectronics Trade Union, complains about a run-around reply from the “house of representatives”.

As BelaPAN news agency reports, Paulouski gathered 121 signatures in October under a proposal to the authorities to fulfill the EU conditions “concerning respect for human rights, democratic liberties and free elections in order Belarus could receive at least $9 billion of aid from the West”, which was promised by Polish PM Donald Tusk. The signatures were sent to the “house of representatives” of the “national assembly”, Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich, head of the Belarusian Trade Union Federation Leanid Kozik and National Bank chief Nadzezhda Yermakova.

The deputy head of the commission for human rights, national relations and media, Uladzimir Adashkevich, wrote an answer from the “parliament” dated of November 14. The answer informs about the structure of the Belarusian government, the two houses of the parliament, the way of forming standing “parliamentary” commissions and their duties.

Paulouski thinks this reply of Adashkevich is run-around, which violates a number of provisions of the Law on Public Appeals. The activist sent a complaint at the reply of the MP to the General Prosecutor of Belarus on November 17.

“In accordance with the regulatory acts of the Republic of Belarus, the prosecutor’s office does not have the right to control observance of law by the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus,” an answer of the General Prosecutor’s Office of November 24 says. The answer was written by Maria Papova, the head of the civil rights and liberties control department.

The official advised Paulouski to file a complaint at the actions and decision by MPs personally to the chair of the lower house.

“I will definitely appeal against the answer of the “house of representatives”, as the letter from the prosecutor’s office advises,” Paulouski says.