Belarus Constitutional Court says Coordination Council is unconstitutional

Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Belarus Petr Miklashevich

MINSK, Aug 26 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Belarus Petr Miklashevich said the Coordination Council, created on the initiative of ex-presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, is unconstitutional.

The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus does not provide for a possibility to establish public organizations and bodies authorized to revise results of a presidential election, Miklashevich told reporters.

The official urged all citizens and organizations involved in public and political activities to stick to the Constitution. This will allow efficiently thwarting attempts to destabilize the situation in the country and undermine the stability and sovereignty of the state, peace and accord in the society, he added.

On Aug. 14, Tikhanovskaya, who is in Lithuania, announced the creation of the Coordination Council, the purpose of which is to organize the transfer of power. On Aug. 19, the first meeting of the Coordination Council took place in Minsk.

Opposition activists demanded putting an end to the political persecution of citizens, releasing all political prisoners, recognizing the Aug. 9 presidential election as invalid, and holding new elections in accordance with international standards.

On Aug. 19, Belarus Prosecutor General Aleksandr Konyuk said that a criminal case has been opened against the Coordination Council. “Establishment of such a council and its activities are aimed at seizing state power, harming the national security of Belarus,” he said.