Ministry of Justice denied official registration to Belarusian LGBT group
In the letter dated 8 February, 2013, the head of the office for non-profit organizations at the Ministry of Justice of Belarus Elena Kirichenko explained the reasons for refusal of registration of the Nation-wide Youth NGO "Human Rights Center "Lambda". Under this title GayBelarus HLGBT Human Rights Project was trying to get legitimized for the second time (the founding congress took place in Minsk on 8 December, 2012.
The formal reason for refusal was the fact that "the statute submitted by "Lambda" does not contain any provisions that indicate that the statutory activities of the public association will seek to provide a comprehensive social formation and development of young people."
In addition, the Ministry of Justice found that the name - the Nation-wide Youth NGO "Human Rights Center "Lambda", does not meet the requirements presented in the organization's statute, since the purpose of "Lambda" is to provide the necessary assistance and support for homosexuals, bisexuals and transgender persons to protect their rights and interests, but not youth in general.
Around 70 founding members of "Lambda" have been invited by the police for so called "conversations," that in reality turned to be interrogations. The law enforcement officers were coming home or at work, sending "preventive letters" to the colleges for those who refused to collaborate.
"Conversations" are taking place at the same time with freakquent police raids in the gay clubs in Minsk and Vitebsk. At least eight such raids took place during the last month.
In December 2011, the Ministry of Justice refused to register the Belarusian nation-wide LGBT advocacy organization citing formal reasons - misspelled names and home addresses of the founding members.
