Lukashenka against women

Belarus’ Supreme Court resolved to close down women’s party “Nadzeya” (“Hope”). The resolution is to come into force after adoption and cannot be appealed against.

The Supreme Court based the decision on the fact that the party had no actual legal address for a long time and 38 organization structures out of 79 were not registered properly. Moreover, the party had no Minsk municipal organization with only Magiliou organization registered, which contradicts the Belarusian legislation.

The party didn’t present data on its activity and membership to the registration body in time, which the Court regarded as a rough violation.

Party’s leader Alena Yaskova, in her turn, gave clear and adequate replies to all the claims the party was confronted with in court and called them biased and groundless.

The Belarusian women’s party “Nadzeya” was registered in 1994; re-registered last on July 5, 2007.

According to member of Central Council of Left Parties Alena Skrygan, persecution of the party “Nadzeya” was initiated right after she acted as one of the founders of the Left Parties Union. The fact that the resolution on the registration of the Union was postponed till the sentence of the Supreme Court on the suit on elimination of the party was passed is indicative of a link between these events.

“The authorities are obviously afraid of consolidation of the democratic forces whose activity has grown higher recently and whose impact on the society is getting stronger every day,” Alena Skrygan said.

In Belarus, all judges are appointed by Aliaksandar Lukashenka personally.