Aarhus Convention violated by Belarus

In accordance with a final conclusion of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee on the case of the hydropower plant in Hrodna, Belarus has violated a number of articles of the Aarhus Convention.

As Euroradio reports, Belarus failed to inform the public in due time and in a required manner about the plant project, didn’t give the public an opportunity to comment on the project, express their views and analyze the project, and didn’t provide information regarding conclusions of the environment impact assessment.

The Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee noted that the Belarusian legislation doesn’t comply with the text of the Convention and recommended the government to solve this situation. Belarus is to provide information the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee regarding fulfillment of the recommendations at least six months prior the 5th meeting of the Convention’s parties scheduled for June 2011 in Moldova.