Elena Tonkacheva is deprived of the right of entry for three years

photo by "EuroBelarus" Information Service

This decision was made on November 5 by the Department of Internal Affairs of Pershamaiski district in Minsk and is based on the excess of speed limits by Elena Tonkacheva while driving her car.

According to the decision made by the Department of Internal Affairs of Pershamaiski district, the head of the Center for Legal Transformation “Lawtrend” Elena Tonkacheva, a Russian citizen, is to leave Belarus within a month. Elena Tonkacheva is going to appeal against this decision in accordance with established legal procedure.

The consideration started at 12 a.m. on Thursday. But first policemen decided to consider the issue of revocation of Elena Tonkacheva’s residence permit; then they picked on 7 thousand signatures signed against deportation of the human rights defendant from Belarus. Representatives of public organizations and journalists set to write petitions on the spot. The procedural routine resulted in delay of the consideration of deportation. The consideration was assigned for 4 p.m.

Speaking about how big are chances for a negative decision, Elena Tonkacheva noted that law enforcement agencies have no grounds for deporting her from the country.

The Chair of the Board of the Center for Legal Transformation Elena Tonkacheva has been living in Belarus for about 30 years, has property, family, and permanent job here, but is a Russian citizen. For 20 years she and her organization have been carrying out human rights activities as well as judicial and expert support for Belarusan NGOs.

The head of the Legal Transformation Center “Lawtrend”, received the notice of cancellation of the residence permit and consideration of her expulsion from Belarus on October 30. The reason for this decision of the authorities lied in administrative offences in the form of minor speedings while driving registered by cameras.