Belarus’ senators approve amendments to laws on political parties

MINSK, 18 October (BelTA) – Belarusian senators have approved amendments to some laws on political parties and NGOs at the second sitting of the autumn session of the Council of the Republic on 18 October, BelTA has learnt.

Deputy Chairman of the Permanent Commission for Education, Science, Culture and Social Development of the Council of the Republic Igor Buzovsky, the draft law does not provide for any fundamental and conceptual changes. “The amendments will eliminate certain barriers that complicated the work of political parties and other NGOs. This pertains to their formation and liquidation,” the MP said.

Earlier, 50 founders from each oblast were needed to set up an NGO. Igor Buzovsky said that the rules will be softened. He underlined that the adoption of the draft law will give a boost to civil society development in Belarus.

The bill will also fix some technicalities to bring the laws in compliance with the Civil Code.

Members of the Council of the Republic have approved the amendments to the law “Concerning national and local assemblies”. One of the major objectives of the draft law is to formalize the detailed mechanism of preparation and conduct of the assemblies.

According to Justice Minister Oleg Slizhevsky who presented the bill at the sitting of the Council of the Republic, the document spells out the mechanisms of preparation and conduct of local assemblies, formalizes the rules of their convocation and specifies the procedures of convocation and conduct of local assemblies of plenipotentiaries.

The document contains a new provision authorizing local assemblies of oblasts and the city of Minsk to address the President to suggest arranging a national assembly.