Justice Ministry wants opposition parties to take care of their leaders
The Justice Ministry of Belarus has demanded that the opposition parties provide explanations why their leaders took part in the unauthorized action by entrepreneurs on January 10, according to the notice posted on the ministry's web site.
During the January 10 action, "the participants of the rally disrupted traffic in the center of Minsk and damaged the windshields and mirrors of the public transport, carried out unlawful actions against police officers. Representatives from several public associations and political parties, including the leaders of the United Civic Party, the Party of Communists and the Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, took part in the event”.
The Justice Ministry demanded that "the ruling bodies of the mentioned parites provide information whether those people were empowered to take part in a mass event. This information should be provided within three days. In case the parties did not empower their leaders to do so, the parties should express an official position regarding the actions of the leaders at the unauthorized event”.
Anatol Lyabedzka, the leader of the United Civic Party, appeared in court on Friday. He was sentenced to 15 days of arrest. Lyabedzka said during the hearing that he was at the rally as a citizen of Belarus, not as a representative of a political party.
According to Alexander Dabravolski, UCP's deputy chairman, the party did not dispatch its leader to this action. However, he has the right to express his personal position.
During the January 10 action, "the participants of the rally disrupted traffic in the center of Minsk and damaged the windshields and mirrors of the public transport, carried out unlawful actions against police officers. Representatives from several public associations and political parties, including the leaders of the United Civic Party, the Party of Communists and the Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, took part in the event”.
The Justice Ministry demanded that "the ruling bodies of the mentioned parites provide information whether those people were empowered to take part in a mass event. This information should be provided within three days. In case the parties did not empower their leaders to do so, the parties should express an official position regarding the actions of the leaders at the unauthorized event”.
Anatol Lyabedzka, the leader of the United Civic Party, appeared in court on Friday. He was sentenced to 15 days of arrest. Lyabedzka said during the hearing that he was at the rally as a citizen of Belarus, not as a representative of a political party.
According to Alexander Dabravolski, UCP's deputy chairman, the party did not dispatch its leader to this action. However, he has the right to express his personal position.
