The School of Young Managers in Public Administration SYMPA's statement on its recognition as an "extremist formation"
On June 12, 2023, our "initiative" was declared an "extremist formation" by the KGB. We consider this absurd, a continuation of unjustified pressure on the academic and research community, and yet another repressive measure against civil society in Belarus We urge those who have participated in our programs and events to take this information into account. We especially ask those who are in Belarus to do so. In order to ensure your own safety, we recommend: - not to keep diplomas and documents mentioning our organization at home, »
Is everything new well-forgotten old? Monitoring of Belarusian CSOs for the second half of 2022 has been published
In this research of SYMPA/BIPART which continues to monitor the situation within the sphere of Belarusian civil society organizations , we look specifically at this kind of “new” initiatives and organizations which emerged or were formed in 2020 or later inside or outside of Belarus and which, in one form or another, have survived until today. All of these organizations focus their activities on the Belarusian agenda and/or work with Belarusians. We intended to answer the following research questions related to these “new” organizations and initiatives: »
Review of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Public Service” has been published in English
The English version of the SYMPA/BIPART article describing the changes in the Law "On Public Service" has been published. These changes came into force on the 1st of September 2022. In this review you can also find the possible consequences that the Belarusian public service and society may face. »
The final (non) statement of expert Tatiana Kouzina in court
This speech by Tatiana Kouzina, which she gave in place of a final statement during an open court hearing, took place on 13th March 2023 in the Minsk municipal court. Experts Tatiana Kouzina and Valeria Kostyugova are accused under three Articles of the Belarusian Criminal Code and are recognised as political prisoners. During the trial, the prosecutor requested 10-year prison sentences for them. »
SYMPA/BIPART expert Tatyana Kuzina was sentenced to 10 years in prison
On 17 March 2023, the trial of experts Tatiana Kouzina and Valeria Kostyugova came to an end. Judge Dina Kuchuk of the Minsk City Court found them guilty under Article 357, Part 1; Article 16, Part 6; Article 361, Part 3; and Article 130, Part 6, of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. Tatiana Kouzina and Valeria Kostyugova were sentenced to 10 years in prison. Tatiana Kouzina pleaded not guilty. The human rights community recognized Tatiana and Valeria as political prisoners back in the summer of 2021. »