Belarusian Supreme Court Closes Down Opposition Party

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka (file photo) 3 August 2004 (RFE/RL) -- The Supreme Court in Belarus has ordered the closure of the opposition Party of Labor.

The court ruled yesterday that the party had violated laws on several occasions, in particular by giving false information about the legal address of the party headquarters and the number of party bodies.

The Party of Labor has been in existence for about 10 years and was one of the organizers of the Five Plus unregistered election coalition.

Party leader Alyaksandr Bukhvostov said the court decision was politically motivated. The case against the party was filed by the Justice Ministry.

(RFE/RL's Belarus Service)