The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 14 Oct 2008

14.10.2008 Winners of school Olympiads in chemistry are summonsed to KGB

In Minsk the winners of the school Olympiads in chemistry are summonsed to the KGB office. They are questioned in connection with the blast that had taken place on 4 July in the morning, at the celebration of the official Independence Day. Fingerprints and saliva samples are also taken from them.

14.10.2008 Hrodna: house sold together with dwellers

This spring the authorities of Hrodna sold at an auction the house in Kaliuchynskaya Street, 23. Soon it will be ruined, but its dwellers still don’t have even a slightest idea when and where they will be relocated.

14.10.2008 German Embassy denies Schengen visas to human rights activists

On 14 October the Embassy of Germany suddenly and without any explanations refused to issue Schengen visas to well-known Belarusian human rights activists and journalists Uladzimir Labkovich, Alena Laptsionak and Siarhei Sys.

14.10.2008 Brest citizens are not allowed to demand return of social guarantees

The local authorities are doing everything possible to smother the civil initiative for returning of the liquidated social guarantees.

14.10.2008 No registration for independent trade union

On 13 October Rechytsa district court rejected the suit of the independent Belarusian trade union of radio-electronic industry (BTUREI) against the refusal of Rechytsa district executive committee to give state registration to a district primary unit of the trade union.

14.10.2008 Central election commission refuses to consider complaints against falsifications

On 13 October the Central election commission refused to grant the complaints filed by some ex- candidates for deputies. Five people demanded that the results of this year’s parliamentary elections were declared invalid and four more demanded that the votes were recounted at certain precincts.

14.10.2008 State officials can visit Europea, but opposition activists can’t

The leader of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich commented to the Charter’97 press center on a decision of the EU Council to lift visa bans on Lukashenka and his officials. It should be reminded that the authorities banned the youth leader to leave Belarus.