The District Court in Minsk has ruled that a Polish community centre in the western city of Ivyanets will no longer be run by the Union of Poles in Belarus. 

The court has transferred the community centre to a rival, pro-government Union of Poles in Belarus, recognized by President Alexander Lukashenka, explaining that the organization run by Andzelika Borys  - which is recognized in Warsaw as the legitimate representatives of the Polish minority - had no right to occupy the building.

“The Polish stance on the issue will be tough. If Belarus does not change its policy, further steps will be taken [against it] by  EU financial institutions,” threatened deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer.

Andzelika Borys, who represents the Polish minority in Belarus, finds the court’s ruling unjust. Polish consul to Belarus Marek Martinek has announced that they will appeal from the verdict.

Since 2005 Belarusian authorities have been running a campaign of harassment of the Union of Poles. The European parliament passed a resolution this week calling for Belarus to improve its record on human rights otherwise penalties and sanctions may be imposed on it.

Two weeks ago, at a swearing in ceremony of Ukraine’s new president in Kiev, Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski met with President Lukashenko where it was agreed that a joint-Polish-Belarusian group would investigate the situation of the Union of Poles. (mg/pg)