14:55, 10 April 2004

Supreme Court to consider suit of department of justice vs. human rights center

The Kabardino-Balkarian Public Human Rights Center, which was denied registration by the Department of the Russian Ministry of Justice in Kabardino-Balkaria, appealed against the decision and gained a court victory at the Nalchik City Court. As it became known on April 9, the department of justice appealed against the latter decision to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. The director of the center, Valery Khatazhukov, called the actions of the above-mentioned department "hysterics" and said it had no formal legal grounds for not registering his organization. "Today there is no non-governmental organization in Kabardino-Balkaria operating independently of the authorities. Such a situation has arisen partly due to the efforts of the department of justice," Valery Khatazhukov said.

Editors note: See also the article "Kabardino-Balkarian branch of Movement for Human Rights gains court victory over regional department of justice".

Author: Luiza Orazayeva, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot