Four parties pledge to keep working regardless possible closure in Belarus

June 5, BPN. Representatives of four Belarusian democratic parties vowed to continue their activities regardless of the imminent closure by the government.

Neither borders nor orders can stop the activities of a party that revolve around a common message and vision, Vadzim Sarančukoŭ, acting chair of the Belarusian Popular Front, has told journalists.

Belarusian authorities will not succeed in their attempts to close down democratic political parties, said Uładzimir Šancaŭ, of the United Civic Party (UCP) that refused to apply for re-registration. The UCP will have to adapt to new conditions, so it will set up branches abroad, he added.

Most of Belarusian Greens Party activists remain in Belarus, said its leader Dźmitryj Kučuk. The Greens will continue their activities regardless of whether they are re-registered or not and plan to prepare for the 2024 parliamentary and local elections, he added.

Political organizations that adhere to democratic principles and the European choice for Belarus will jointly announce further plans after the completion of party re-registration, Kučuk noted.

Authorities will not be able to shut down political parties over the next few days, Ihar Barysaŭ of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) said. Some 10 percent of Hramada’s members fled Belarus fearing politically-motivated persecution and may resume their activities abroad, he noted.

Belarusian democratic political parties stand united as never before, said Anatol Labiedźka, advisor on constitutional reform and inter-parliamentary cooperation to opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja.

Nine political parties rally round a common platform against Russia’s war on Ukraine and dictatorship. Their representatives will participate in the meeting of the Council of Europe’s contact group on Belarus, Labiedźka 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.