Social Democratic Party on verge of closure - Shushkevich

The Belarusian Social Democratic Party 'Hramada' is preparing to lose its registration with the Ministry of Justice, party leader and the first independent Belarus leader Stanislau Shushkevich told Euroradio.

The party cannot afford to pay the office rent. In Belarus, political parties now have to pay full price without discounts. According to the BSDPH, the office rental costs $1100-1200 a month.

Shushkevich: “We cannot pay this price. We have cancelled several contacts because we have no money to pay the rent. As a result, the Ministry of Justice will annul our registration.”

The party members are not going to quit. An organizing committee for the creation of the party will be formed, Shushkevich said. The committee can exist without an office.

The Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada was officially registered in 1996.