Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MINSK905
2007-10-26 15:07:00
SECRET
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
SUPREME COURT DENIES VYASNA REGISTRATION APPEAL
how-toVZCZCXRO0485 RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV DE RUEHSK #0905 2991507 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 261507Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6605 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
S E C R E T MINSK 000905
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR BO
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT DENIES VYASNA REGISTRATION APPEAL
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
Summary
-------
S E C R E T MINSK 000905
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR BO
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT DENIES VYASNA REGISTRATION APPEAL
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (U) The Supreme Court denied the registration appeal of
Human Rights NGO Vyasna October 26. The NGO had been
appealing an earlier decision by the Justice Ministry to deny
its registration due to supposed errors in its application.
The group is a successor to an organization that the Supreme
Court liquidated in 2003 on charges of violating electoral
regulations during the 2001 presidential race. End summary.
After a Small Victory...
--------------
2. (U) The hearing which poloffs attended began on October 23
with a mild victory for the NGO. Vyasna representatives
asserted that they were unable to proceed because the court
documents -- and the Registration Law itself -- were
available only in Russian and not Belarusian. Calling it an
insult to the language and its people, they requested all
documents be translated. The judge complied and ordered the
Justice Ministry to provide translations.
... And Some Political Theater...
--------------
3. (U) Vyasna's appeal strategy began by addressing the
administrative reasons for the denial, but diverged into
political theater. Lawyers started by refuting the
government's contention that many of the founders had
criminal records, pointing out the absurdity of denying
registration because members had been issued fines for
jaywalking and hanging laundry on balconies. One Vyasna
representative pointed out that at a recent international
conference he attended, "even the Kazakhs laugh at the
absurdity of our laws." They closed their statements by
presenting to the judge photographs of many activists who had
been convicted of working on behalf of unregistered
organizations.
... A Predictable Defeat.
--------------
4. (U) In the end, however, the judge ruled on October 26
against Vyasna's appeal. She cited three major reasons; that
the organization had failed to submit all necessary
documents, that it had violated rules by registering under
the same name as an already-banned organization, and that its
mission statement was not clear and specific enough.
Comment: Language Issue Out Front
--------------
5. (C) Though many Belarusian opposition activists consider
the Belarusian language an important issue, they had
previously never raised the question at official hearings.
In the face of almost certain defeat, they decided to score
at least a minor victory by bringing the language issue to
the forefront. After the verdict, Vyasna's lawyers told
poloff that they have no plans at present to continue their
fight for registration.
STEWART
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR BO
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT DENIES VYASNA REGISTRATION APPEAL
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (U) The Supreme Court denied the registration appeal of
Human Rights NGO Vyasna October 26. The NGO had been
appealing an earlier decision by the Justice Ministry to deny
its registration due to supposed errors in its application.
The group is a successor to an organization that the Supreme
Court liquidated in 2003 on charges of violating electoral
regulations during the 2001 presidential race. End summary.
After a Small Victory...
--------------
2. (U) The hearing which poloffs attended began on October 23
with a mild victory for the NGO. Vyasna representatives
asserted that they were unable to proceed because the court
documents -- and the Registration Law itself -- were
available only in Russian and not Belarusian. Calling it an
insult to the language and its people, they requested all
documents be translated. The judge complied and ordered the
Justice Ministry to provide translations.
... And Some Political Theater...
--------------
3. (U) Vyasna's appeal strategy began by addressing the
administrative reasons for the denial, but diverged into
political theater. Lawyers started by refuting the
government's contention that many of the founders had
criminal records, pointing out the absurdity of denying
registration because members had been issued fines for
jaywalking and hanging laundry on balconies. One Vyasna
representative pointed out that at a recent international
conference he attended, "even the Kazakhs laugh at the
absurdity of our laws." They closed their statements by
presenting to the judge photographs of many activists who had
been convicted of working on behalf of unregistered
organizations.
... A Predictable Defeat.
--------------
4. (U) In the end, however, the judge ruled on October 26
against Vyasna's appeal. She cited three major reasons; that
the organization had failed to submit all necessary
documents, that it had violated rules by registering under
the same name as an already-banned organization, and that its
mission statement was not clear and specific enough.
Comment: Language Issue Out Front
--------------
5. (C) Though many Belarusian opposition activists consider
the Belarusian language an important issue, they had
previously never raised the question at official hearings.
In the face of almost certain defeat, they decided to score
at least a minor victory by bringing the language issue to
the forefront. After the verdict, Vyasna's lawyers told
poloff that they have no plans at present to continue their
fight for registration.
STEWART