Rights activists report shutdown of 765 civil society groups

June 16, BPN. Seven hundred and sixty five civil society organizations were closed down or in the process of liquidation in Belarus as of the end of May, as evident from monitoring by human rights organizations Lawtrend and OEEC.

The number of NGOs liquidated or in the process of liquidation reached 448.

The number of those that decided to self-liquidate amounted to 317.

“The destruction of independent trade unions, searches, detention of public activists and trade union members, application of extremism legislation as a tool of pressure on public activity and information sources continues. Trials of a number of representatives of civil society organizations have been scheduled,” the report reads.

As before, decisions to self-liquidate are made primarily because of the unfavorable legal environment and the overall socio-political situation in the country, often under pressure from the authorities, human rights defenders say.