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Supreme Court upholds registration denial for «Tell the Truth!» movement

A judge of the Supreme Court of Belarus on Wednesday rejected an appeal by the “Tell the Truth!” movement against the justice ministry’s decision to deny it state registration.

Judge Valyantsina Kulik started hearing the appeal on Tuesday.

The movement, which is led by poet-turned-politician Uladzimir Nyaklyayew, has had three applications for registration turned down by the justice ministry.

The most recent application was rejected this past June.

Explaining its decision, the ministry said that although valid on the date of submission, a letter confirming that the “Tell the Truth!” movement had a legal address had expired before the application's consideration.

The other “flaw” noted by the ministry was that the movement had allegedly failed to specify the number of its board members.

The movement described the ministry's arguments as far-fetched.

The organization describes its mission as contributing to the creation of a democratic, law-based state, the development of civil society and the economy, and the strengthening of the Belarusian people’s patriotic traditions.

The “Tell the Truth!” movement was established on February 25, 2010, with the initial aim of raising the awareness of the public of social and economic problems in the country and pressing for the government to solve them. During the presidential race later that year, hundreds of activists of the movement across Belarus collected ballot-access signatures and electioneered for Mr. Nyaklyayew.

The movement’s previous two registration applications were also rejected for technical reasons. //BelaPAN