Another Belarusian opposition group registered in Czech Republic

Prague/Minsk, July 3 (CTK) - The Czech Interior Ministry has registered the Belarusian opposition group Razam (Together) that has been involved in human rights protection for roughly six years, the Minsk server Telegraf said Tuesday.

The registration is a vital condition for the maintenance of international relations and the strengthening of legal platform in the contact with Belarusian authorities, Telegraf said.

"From this moment on, we can conduct official talks with representatives of European countries in order to gain the biggest possible support to find a way out of the criminal and desperate situation in which the last dictatorship in Europe has appeared," Razam's head Vyachaslav Sivchyk said.

According to the available information, Sivchyk, a veteran of the Belarusian dissident movement, lives in exile in Ukraine.

Sivchyk said the registration of Razam constituted a great moral support to all of its members.

The organisation fights against political reprisals in Belarus, defending the interests of local businessmen and ethnic minorities.

It is also active in the sphere of education and culture, organising social projects.

Razam is not the first Belarusian group to be registered by the Czech authorities.

Some other opposition groups such the youth organisation Malady front and the civic movement Nas dom acquired the registration earlier.

Besides, former Belarusian presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevic was granted asylum in the Czech Republic last year.