News for 4 ліпеня 2008
Midnight blast in Minsk brings more than 50 victims
At least 50 people have been injured in Belarus after a bomb exploded during a concert in the capital, Minsk. The event was taking place in the centre of the city to mark the official Independence Day (former day of the country’s liberation from Nazi troops). President Alexander Lukashenka, whose rule has been denounced as autocratic by the US and the European Union, was attending the concert.
Another complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee
On 1 July the members of the liquidated cultural and educational NGO Stary Horad which used to operate on the territory of Brest filed a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee against the liquidation. Stary Horad was registered in 1992 for support of the public and cultural initiatives of Brest residents, aimed at development and wellbeing of their city. On 12 April 2007 Brest oblast court ruled to liquidate the organization on suit of Brest oblast executive committee.
Trade union activists against Hrodna police
The administration of the Belarusian trade union or radio electronic industry demands that Leninski district procuracy of Hrodna take the necessary measures in connection with the illegal confiscation of copies of the Haradzenskaya Salidarnasts newspaper from the member of the trade union Uladzimir Tabola.
‘Hazeta Slonimskaya’ wins the trial
The court confessed that the article published by the newspaper concerning the doctor Natallia Kiman was based on real facts which were confirmed by the investigation.
Youth activist gets to mental hospital for refusal to collaborate with KGB
Activist of the youth organization Civil Forum Artsiom Zabaryn was taken to the Minsk mental hospital for examination after he had refused to answer questions of the KGB offices.
Pavel Yukhnevich is imprisoned for seven days
Pavel Yukhnevich, activist of the European Belarus civil campaign, is serving his 7-day arrest in the jail on Akrestin Street in Minsk since yesterday.
Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in June 2008
The main events in Belarus in June are the official appointment of the parliamentary elections, the start of the electoral campaign and the adoption of the new law On mass media which considerably aggravates the situation of mass media in the country and is evidently repressive. On 24 June the president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenka signed order #344 On appointment of the elections to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the fourth convocation. By this document the elections was appointed on 28 September 2008. Short before this the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and other human rights activists declared their intention to monitor the parliamentary election in Belarus. Aleh Hulak, the chair of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, and Ales Bialiatski, vice-chair of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), answered the questions of journalists at the press-conference which was held on 12 June. The human rights activists stated that the present electoral legislations allowed holding quite free elections and the main problem was in the practice of its implementation and the election could be free and fair if there was any political will for it. The authorities reacted to the initiative of human rights activists by pressurizing them and their families. On 12 June the 1st channel of the Belarusian TV advertised a program which insulted their honor and dignity. Then the whole program was shown in the Sunday’s Panorama. Beside the attempt to discredit human rights activity the authorities also conduct a detailed tax check-up concerning human rights activists. The BHC chair Aleh Hulak, its ex-chair Tatsiana Protska, the BHC member Zmitser Markusheuski, the human rights activists Ales Bialiatski and Valiantsin Stefanovich and their families received orders from the Ministry of Dues and Taxes to fill asset and income declarations.
