BCD Newsletter Belarusian Christian Democrats intimidated

FOUNDING CONGRESS OF THE BELARUSIAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY

PARTY TOOK PLACE IN MINSK

The Founding Congress of the BCD was held in Minsk 28 February, 2009. For the last

10 years it is the second attempt to register a new political party in Belarus.

Over six hundred people, both delegates and guests, took part in the BCD’s Founding

Congress. As guests there were oppositional politicians Alyaksandr Kazulin and

 

Alyaksandr Milinkievich

, leaders of political parties Lyavon Barshcheuski and

Anatol

Lyabedzka

, Christian Democrats from Ukraine, Armenia and Latvia, OSCE

representatives, and representatives of U.S., Sweden and Czech embassies.

The Congress received greetings from Hans‐Gert Pottering, President of the European

Parliament; Benita Ferrero‐Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations and

European Neighbourhood Policy; Ronald Pofalla, the general secretary of Christian

Democratic Union of Germany; Gary Streeter, Conservative Party Member of

Parliament of the UK; Jacek Protasiewicz, member of the European Parliament and the

head of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Belarus; Arnoldas, administrator of Interparliamentary delegation for Belarus, Ukraine and

Pranckevicius

Russia at the European Parliament; and Jacek Saryusz‐Wolskichairman of the Civic, vice‐

Platform.

Foreign distinguished guests, including the chairman of the Christian Democratic Party

of Finland, a deputy of the Parliament Paivi Rasanen; vice‐chairman of the Christian

Democratic Union of Ukraine, senior secretary of the East‐European Bureau of Christian

Democratic parties Yuri Reshetnikov, and a representative of the ECPM Leo van, addressed to the Congress.

Doesburg

 

The Congress took an official decision to found the Belarusian Christian Democracy

Party and adopted the Party’s Programme and Statute. The delegates also elected the

BCD’s governing body—the National Council. Hieorhi Dzmitruk, Vital Rymasheuski,

Paval Seviarynets, and Alaksiej Shein were elected co‐chairmen of the Party.

After the Congress, BCD members plan to file for registration in the Ministry of Justice.

Regardless of the decision of the Ministry, Christian Democrats will continue their

work.

The Belarusian Christian Democracy Party has ongoing history since May 1917, until it

was banned by the communist regime of the Soviet Union in 1939 and all of its

founders were murdered.

The idea of the Party was revived in 1991, when Belarus became independent. In the

early 21st century the BCD has been gaining strength and eventually at the Congress

declared its aim to became the leading political force in the state and strive for a

Belarus based on truth, freedom and justice.

BCD FILED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

The BCD’s Steering Committee—Paval Seviarynets, Alaksiej Shein, Hieorhi Dzmitruk,

Vital Rymasheuski, and Party’s secretary Dzianis Sadouski applied for registration in the

Ministry of Justice 12 March, 2009. The Ministry must give the answer to allow or

deny registration to the party within a month after the documents were filed.

According to the BCD’s leaders, the registration or its denial will indicate, whether the

authorities are ready for the leash‐loosening policy, recently so much spoken about.

 

 

BCD FOUNDERS FACE PRESSURE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY

After the Founding Congress had finished and the documents had been filed for

registration, more than four hundred people (out of 1,060) were called out to talk

with KGB representatives, state officials, and ideological officers.

Co‐chairman of the BCD’s Steering Committee Alaksiej Shein finds the reaction of the

authorities predictable. “A new generation took part in the Congress. These people,

mostly church members from different denominations, have not shown civil activity

before. The authorities are afraid that new people become politically and socially

engaged,” notes Mr. Shein.

BCD’s activists Heorhi Stankievich, Lidzia Tryputa, Kira Chuk, Kazimir Varonka and

Tatsiana Klimentsieva

were threatened with dismissal for taking part in the foundation

of the Party. The co‐chairman of the BCD’s Steering Committee businessman Heorhifaced a new type of repression—financial inspection. A research worker of

Dzmitruk

the Belarusian Academy of Sciences Uladzislau Hrabavy was summoned to the

administration of the institution to talk about his sympathy for the BCD.

Some people from Homiel, including Andrus Tsianiuta, Kastus Zhukovsky, and Dzianis, were fired but stayed with the BCD. Students were called to talk, but no one

Chabirau

was expelled. A BCD’s activist from Polatsk was also fired. Some BCD activists in Miory,

Zaslauje, Minsk, Mahiliou, and Klichau are under the threat of dismissal.

According to Dzianis Lajeuski, a BCD’s activist, in Maladzechna state officials from the

ideological department phoned local party’s founders in order to check, whether they

had signed the documents on foundation of the Party.

“The regime’s repressive machine continues to work. But are prepared to overcome all

obstacles to become a legal party and work for the benefit of Belarus,” said on the

situation Paval Seviarynets, BCD’s co‐chairman.