Organisations denied registration because of names

The main justice department of Hrodna regional executive committee denied state registration to “Golden Lion” cultural and educational association from Slonim.

As a reason for registration denial, the registering authority stated some articles of the organisation’s statute, including those concerning the order of making changes to the statute and the procedure for filing an appeal against decisions of organisatoin’s bodies, spring96.org website informs.

Besides, officials of justice department state that as long as there are no explanations of the words “Golden Lion” in the statute, the name of the association contradicts the statute.

“This decision of the registering authority has been taken in the worst traditions of political limitation of freedom of association, which have established in Belarus,” a lawyer of “Viasna” human rights association Yury Chavusau says. “There are no legal grounds for registration denial at all. Claims to the Statute are not based no the law and are a result of arbitrary treatment of provisions of law by officials”.

The objective of “Golden Lion” is to increase level of cultural and educational civil activities of Slonim district dwellers in order to solve problems important for the community.