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Opposition youth group called Alternatyva holds founding conference in Minsk

An opposition youth organization called Alternatyva (Alternative) held its founding conference in Minsk on Saturday in an attempt to obtain legal status.

Alternatyva was de facto established last year, and the organization has been registered by the Polish and Latvian authorities since.

The conference was attended by 20 delegates. Alternatyva’s founder Aleh Korban was elected its chairperson, while Volha Burnevich became deputy chairperson. The organization plans to apply to the justice ministry for registration before November 12.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Korban said that the organization was not a political force and had no plans to field its candidates in elections. At the same time, he said, its members are not prohibited from running for elected office as individuals.

“When the organizing committee was formed a year ago, we clearly realized that we were an alternative to the lack of ideas, apathy and passivity,” he said.

The delegates voted to approve a charter that describes Alternatyva’s mission as contributing to the creation of a civil society and a law-based state in Belarus, as well as promoting market reforms and human rights in the country.

The delegates adopted a statement calling for the release of political prisoners. They also urged the Belarusian authorities to end the persecution of their political opponents.

In 2010, Aleh Korban was elected leader of the United Civic Party (UCP)'s youth wing, called Maladyya Demakraty (Young Democrats).

During that year's presidential race, he was a campaign aide to the UCP's candidate Yaraslaw Ramanchuk. He was among the hundreds of people arrested in the wake of a post-election protest staged in Minsk on December 19, 2010. He was released from a KGB jail on his own recognizance on January 7, 2011, and eventually had the criminal case against him closed.

In March 2012, Mr. Korban announced his intention to run for the position of UCP chairperson, but he withdrew his bid at the party's convention in favor of Anatol Lyabedzka, who was reelected as chairperson.

In July 2012, Mr. Korban quit the United Civic Party. //BelaPAN