Since 2020, more than 1,800 NGOs have been liquidated in Belarus, the human rights organization Lawtrend reports.
By the end of September, at least 1,137 non-governmental organizations were in the process of forced liquidation. The number of the organizations that have decided to self-liquidate has increased to 666 (at the end of September). It is noted that the decision on self-liquidation is made primarily because of the pressure on the participants of the organizations.
In recent years, new non-profit organizations have been registered in Belarus in the form of public associations, non-governmental institutions and foundations. As of October 1, 2024, human rights defenders are aware of the registration of at least 33 new NGOs. They “have a social and charitable, physical culture and sports, professional, patriotic character, animal protection.” However, the number of registered organizations is ten times less than the number of those that have been liquidated and are being liquidated.
In the spring of 2022, the Ministry of Justice called the “cleansing” of civil society in Belarus an “inventory”, which was carried out by “justice authorities in cooperation with law enforcement officers.” In its review, Lawtrend emphasizes that repressions against civil society organizations and activists continue in Belarus. More than a hundred representatives of civil society organizations are behind bars.
