On Wednesday the Committee to Protect Civil Society held a meeting on trials of civil society activists. Participants in the debate pointed out that these processes were ordered, the majority of defense motions are unreasonably withheld. The investigation puts pressure on the so-called victims who do not consider themselves as such. Court trials are held in small halls, and lawyers are often under pressure. In connection with the above, the Committee expressed its concern, and will make a statement. The meeting participants also discussed the state of civil society in the country in light of imposed restrictions.
The participants were presented the appeal to the parliament, as well as to the international organizations. The appeal says that the recent amendments to the legislation actually froze the activities of NGOs. So, for the last year, independent NGOs have undergone unprecedented pressure from the authorities: searches in the dozens of NGOs, their accounts were arrested.
The only goal is the destruction of independent NGOs. The authors of the appeal called on MPs to prepare a proposal on the simplification of laws on NGOs. The Committee also prepared a questionnaire survey to examine the existing problems of the third sector.
The questionnaire about the survey has already been placed in the social network, and it should be filled until 3 February.
The Committee also plans to prepare a report on the assessment of the situation in the third sector. The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 3 February.
* The Committee was created in 2009 when began the first wave of reaction making amendments to the law on NGOs. Then it included about 100 independent NGOs, including those organizations whose leaders are now under arrest.
At the present time, in connection with criminal prosecution of many NGOs and arrest of the leaders of some of them; the committee actively involved about 20 activists. -05C04-
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