Criticism of authorities to be equivalent to “extremist activity”

The “house of representatives” adopted amendments to the law of the Republic of Belarus on extremism countering in the second reading on 17 June. The amendments will reduce the activity of political parties during the electoral campaigns, opposition politicians believe.

The laws on Non-Governmental Organisations and on Political Parties are added the provisions, forbidding creating and activity of associations and parties, whose aim is any extremist activity.

The amendments to the laws on extremism countering will seriously reduce possibilities of political parties during the electoral campaigns. BelaPAN has learnt it from oppositional politicians, commenting on adoption of the amendments to the laws by the parliament.

The draft law suggests a norm, according to which propaganda electoral materials, public speeches at meetings and for media mustn’t contain calls to violent overthrow of the constitutional system, seizure of power, terroristic or other extremist activity, contempt or libel against officials.

“The amendments to the laws mean that pressure on opponents of the regime will be tighten,” Anatol Lyabedzka, leader of the United Civil Party is sure. “I don’t exclude this law can be used for withdrawal uncomfortable candidates for deputies at the elections to the “house of representatives”, which are to be held this autumn, or at the presidential elections of 2011.”

Syarhei Kalyakin, head of the Communist Party of Belarus thinks the adopted amendments are “targeted not at extremism countering, but at narrowing of field of activity of the legal political parties.”

“The question is how judges, prosecutors and other officials will now define the notion “extremist activity”. It is worrisome that this draft law mentions such notions as “seizure of power” and prevention of “contempt or libel against officials”. Any criticism of the authorities may now come under the responsibility. What concerns “seizure of power”, any political party is created to gain the power by legal means,” S. Kalyakin stressed.

Anatol Lyaukovich, first deputy head of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) thinks “the authorities will try to limit even speeches of their opponents.” “Such words as “any” and “other” in the law give an opportunity to interpret the law as the Belarusian authorities want it,” the politician believes.