Santa Clauses denied registration

The General Prosecutor’s Office found activity of Santa Clauses on New Year’s Eve illegal.

A group of Santa Clauses will be brought to responsibility in case it is established they take systematic part in an unregistered organization, the letter of the General Prosecutor’s Office says, spring96.org reports.

We remind that October 15, 15 Belarusian human rights activists dressed as Santa Clauses and Snegurochkas came to the Generals Prosecutor’s Office and handed in a petition.

The petition says all participants of the action are members of the unregistered association of Santa Clauses. “We have been carrying out the next activities: organising New Year’s Eve parties in deferent towns of Belarus, handing out gifts (including among the minors), making speeches at meetings and in the press with congratulations,” the statement to the prosecutor general said.

According to participants of the action, they have learnt that activity on behalf of unregistered public organization is forbidden in Belarus and provides responsibility in accordance with article 193-1 of the Criminal Code. “In this respect, we decided to confess we belong to the unregistered association of Santa Clauses. We ask to give a legal evaluation of our activity,” the authors write.

The General Prosecutor’s Office reminded in an answer that activity of unregistered non-governmental organizations is banned in Belarus. They also said that “if have exact information about systematic and organized participation of people in illegal activity of an unregistered non-governmental organization”, a question of bringing them to responsibility may be considered.

We remind that under article 193.1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (Illegal activity on behalf of an association, religious organization or foundation or taking part in this activity) 17 people have been convicted in Belarus during four years. The article still remains in force in spite of protests of international community.

Photo by "Nasha Niva"