Lawtrend: Belarus loses 1,057 civil society organizations in two years

November 15, BPN. Belarus lost at least 1,057 nonprofit organizations between the 2020 presidential election and late October 2022, says a recent report by the human rights organization Lawtrend.

These include various types of associations, trade unions, foundations, and non-governmental agencies. Belarusian authorities shut down 37 organizations in October alone.

In late October, 667 nonprofits were in the process of forced liquidation. The number rose from 646 in the previous month, while 390 decided to terminate operation (309 in September) under pressure from authorities.

In October, authorities blacklisted the environmental association Ecohome (Ekodom) as an extremist group, Lawtrend noted.

Private schools came under pressure last month with 20 entities forced to close or suspend operation.

In the 2022 school year, authorities closed Lithuanian-funded school in Pialesa, located in the Hrodna region’s Voranava district, over alleged safety issues. Another Lithuanian minority school as well as two Polish schools in the Hrodna region were ordered to switch to Russian or Belarusian as their language of instruction.

Authorities also closed down the Catholic Christian Social Center’s school in Minsk, the report said.