Chairperson condemns new restrictions on freedom of assembly and association in Belarus

VILNIUS, 24 October 2011 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, today condemned newly adopted amendments to existing laws on public assemblies and the security services, saying they will further limit the fundamental freedoms of assembly and association in Belarus.

"I call on President Aleksandr Lukashenko not to sign these amendments into law and to refrain from further contravening OSCE commitments, which he himself reaffirmed less than a year ago, by imposing new restrictions on civil society in Belarus,” Ažubalis said. "I am deeply concerned over these new restrictions on civil liberties in Belarus and call, once again, on the Belarusian President to allow a vibrant civil society and cease political persecutions. By worsening the human rights situation in the country and systematically limiting fundamental freedoms, Belarus can only isolate itself further from the international arena".

On 3 October, the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament adopted three draft amendments, including one that increases the powers of the State Security Committee.  Two others, which change crucial provisions of the Law on Mass Events and the Law on Public Associations, were approved by the upper chamber of Parliament on 21 October.

Amendments to the Law on Mass Events prohibit the "presence of people in pre-determined public space at a scheduled time to perform pre-determined actions organized for public expressions of their social political interests or protest" and severely limit possible locations for even sanctioned assemblies.

Changes to the Law on Public Associations, among others, restrict the ability for Belarusian public organizations to engage with foreign and international civil society organizations and prohibit the holding of bank accounts abroad. They introduce changes both into the Criminal Code (criminalizing the receipt of foreign aid and any violation of the order to organize or conduct mass events) and into the Administrative Law (limiting freedom of association and assembly).

On 2 August 2011, Janez Lenarčič, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, officially warned the Belarusian authorities against further restricting fundamental freedoms of assembly, and offered assistance in bringing Belarus' legislation in line with the country's international commitments.

Since becoming OSCE Chairperson in January 2011, Ažubalis has met regularly with representatives of Belarusian civil society in exile. In June in Vilnius he opened the House of United Belarus, a facility for Belarusian non-governmental organizations, academics and intellectuals who wish to continue their work in exile.