Justice Ministry of Belarus protests against procrastinated consideration of a claim for duties in the CIS Economic Court

The Ministry of Justice of Belarus expressed its grievance at the work of the CIS Economic Court where it had registered a claim on the legality of levying export customs duties on oil products and petrochemical raw materials delivered from Russia to Belarus, reads an official statement of the Belarusian Ministry of Justice.

The Ministry of Justice of Belarus expressed its grievance at the work of the CIS Economic Court where it had registered a claim on the legality of levying export customs duties on oil products and petrochemical raw materials delivered from Russia to Belarus, reads an official statement of the Belarusian Ministry of Justice.

“The Panel of the CIS Economic Court has taken a decision to continue the pretrial examination of the case within the framework of the executive session which is scheduled for June 22^nd, 2010. The Department of Justice strongly objects to this decision and makes the following statement: Court's decision contradicts its Rules,” says the document.

As provided by paragraph 61 of the Rules, the panel of the Court must hold an executive session no later than thirty days after accepting a matter for processing. This session should result in issuing a judicial determination which specifies, among others, the time of the main session of the Court. The petition of the Government of the Republic of Belarus was accepted for processing on April 21^st. The court was to set a date for the first meeting to try the case on its merits till May 21^st of this year.

For reasons given, the Ministry of Justice made a conclusion that the Court's decision to hold an executive session on June 22^nd, 2010 and an uncertain date of the main hearing of the case contradicts the Rules and procrastinates the judicial process.

The statement also says that the Ministry of Justice has sent a relevant appeal to the Court with a request to review the date of the main session. In view of obvious and ongoing violations of Russia’s international obligations, procrastination of the judicial process is unacceptable.