The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for June 2008

12.06.2008 Vitsebsk oblast chamber of judges abolishes sentence to Nikolai Kostyshev

As the organization committee for the establishment of the Belarusian committee for protection of the prisoners’ rights Over the Barrier learned from the relatives of the Russian citizen Nikolai Kostyshev, the ruling to abolish the sentence to him had been issued on 29 April 2008, but the relatives found about it only on 9 June, from the prisoner’s letter.

12.06.2008 Youth activists beaten by riot squad police at ‘Beatles’ Festival’

During the musical festival ‘Beatles Forever’ which was held in Lahoisk on Saturday, 7 June, several youngsters raised white-red-white flags. Several minutes after this raged riot squad policemen burst into the crowd and started beating the youngsters, among whom there was an activist of the Young Front Vadzim Khaniauka.

12.06.2008 Belarusian Language Society wants to take part in school reform

Belarusian Language Society has decided to take part in the school reform. As said by the chairperson of the organization Aleh Trusau in the interview to the European Radio, the BLS secretariat has adopted a statement calling for extension of the usage of the Belarusian language in schools.

12.06.2008 Authorities of Vitsebsk are reluctant to register homeless Shchukin

These days the human rights activist and oppositionist Valery Shchukin has applied to the prosecutor of Vitsebsk oblast for the third time. He again asks to register him as a homeless person. In the answers to the previous complaints the prosecutor answered that registration was impossible and it was necessary to conduct an appropriate check-up. According to Shchukin, by non-registering him as homeless the authorities violate presidential decree #413.

12.06.2008 Polatsk: police detain activists of ‘Young Front’

On 11 June in Polatsk the police detained five activists of the Young Front: Mikalai Dzemidzenka, Siarzhuk Karalionak, Ales Khaberau, Ales Krutkin and Katsiaryna Salauyova for unfurling a banner ‘Stop dictatorship’ opposite Polatsk city executive committee.

12.06.2008 .by zone: registration impossible?

The State Center of Information Security under the auspices of the Belarusian president has temporarily suspended issuing certificates of domain names’ ownership to their owners.

12.06.2008 Activist of ‘European Belarus’ Alexander Atroshchankau arrested for 15 days

Today in the afternoon Tsentralny district court of Minsk has sentenced Alexander Atroshchankau, activist of the campaign, to 15 days of jail. He had trial in the Tsentralny district. The activist was taken to the court from the KGB Minsk and Minsk region directorate.

12.06.2008 Minsk: action of solidarity with Ivan Shyla

An action of solidarity with Ivan Shyla has been held today in the center of Minsk. On 4 June, before his last final exam, Ivan Shyla was expelled from a secondary school because of public activism.

11.06.2008 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in May 2008

In May the politically motivated court processes against participants of peaceful street actions continued. The youth activists Maxim Dashuk, Pavel Vinahradau, and Mikhail Subach were sentenced to personal restraint. Thus, the number of political prisoners increased.

11.06.2008 Nasta Azarka gets fined

On 11 June the administrative commission of Niasvizh district executive committee considered the police reports against the Young Front activist Nasta Azarka for posting stickers.

11.06.2008 Mazyr: Pavel Nazdra called to military enlistment office

The Young Front activist Pavel left his house at 7.45 pm yesterday. A man in civvies came up to him and handed in a call-up paper. Pavel is to go to the military enlistment office at 9 am today. He is to spend 17 days at military training.

10.06.2008 KGB interrogates victims of RNE-threats

Yan Taupyha, member of the council of the Christian Democratic Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, and party member Yan Dziarzhautsau, were called to the region KGB office. Six month ago they received threatening letters from the Vitsebsk office of the underground pro-Russian neo-Nazi organization Russian National Unity (RNE).

10.06.2008 Polastk: political views as obstacle to becoming a honors man

An activist of the Young Front Zmitser Sakalou, the best graduate of Polatsk Lyceum, has been deprived a diploma with honors because of his political convictions.

09.06.2008 Anzhalika Borys, head of Union of Poles in Belarus, gets fined for concert

Anzhalika Borys, head of the unrecognized by the authorities Union of Poles, has been sentenced to a fine of 1.4 million Belarusian rubles for having organized a concert of the well-known Polish band Lombard in Hrodna on 2 May.

09.06.2008 Prison guards steal money from political prisoner Siarhei Parsiukevich?

Siarhei Parsiukevich has found himself without money and food after he was transferred to the Shklou penal colony. According to his wife, Vitsebsk entrepreneurs have recently attended the prison to pass him a food parcel, but the administration of the colony refused to accept it, RFE/RL reports.