2004 press releases

Embassy Press Release on Court Decision on Belarusian Helsinki Committee (June 29, 2004)

The Embassy of the United States of America welcomes the recent decision by the Supreme Economic Court of Belarus to drop all charges against the Belarus Helsinki Committee. The United States and the European Union have been closely following this case. It is encouraging that this court confirmed the view of the United States and the European Union that the charges against the Belarus Helsinki Committee were groundless.

If upheld, this decision would give hope that the court system of Belarus has the capacity and courage to protect the rights of Belarusian citizens and organizations to conduct their activities legally and freely. An independent judicial system and non-governmental organizations, such as the Belarus Helsinki Committee, can play critical roles in fulfilling the widely held aspirations of Belarusian people to establish a free, democratic society in Belarus. This court decision is clearly an encouraging event for the Belarusian court system, Belarusian NGO's and Belarus in general. The United States also once again encourages Belarusian authorities to ensure that Ambassador Mikhail Marinich also receives full, fair and just treatment under Belarusian law  and urges Belarusian authorities, including the court system, to protect Ambassador Marinich's civil rights as guaranteed by the Belarusian Constitution.