Hramada applies for re-registration, UCP refuses to play along

June 5, BPN. The Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) has submitted its re-registration application to the Ministry of Justice without identifying its members for fear of reprisals, its leader, Ihar Barysaŭ, told journalists via videoconference.

Hramada has also submitted minutes of the Central Committee meeting, at which its leaders rejected amendments to its charter required under the new controversial legislation on political parties, he added.

“Why did we file the application? Because this is a formal procedure,” Barysaŭ said. “We are a party registered back in 1991 and we have always complied with laws.”

The Belarusian Greens Party submitted its re-registration application on May 31 and the “Just World” Belarusian Party of the Left, on June 2. Neither has disclosed the identities of party members.

Vadzim Sarančukoŭ, the acting chair of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), did not say whether his party had applied for re-registration. “We believe that this process violates the democratic principles and norms and the Constitution of our country,” he said. “[It] does not aim to achieve social harmony and does not contribute to improving the situation in Belarus.”

The BPF respects the privacy and safety of its members and will not share their personal data, he said noting that only the Supreme Court can decide on the party’s closure. “Today we are not talking about self-liquidation or going underground,” Sarančukoŭ added.

The United Civic Party has not applied for re-registration, said Uładzimir Šancaŭ, its acting chair. “We will not take part in this farce. . . because it’s all illegal,” he said.

On February 14, Alaksandr Łukašenka signed into law a bill governing political parties and public associations after it was rushed through the National Assembly. The new legislation would require all functioning parties to re-register. Critics fear that the reregistration campaign is just a pretext to shut down the few surviving opposition parties.