25.11.2009 Independent trade union activists arrested at BelAZ

On 24 November several members of the independent trade union of radio-electronic industry were detained at the entrance to the BelAZ truck factory in Zhodzina, Minsk region, as they were distributing leaflets in support of their co-activist Yury Loban, fired by the factory administration on 24 November. According to the information available, the activists were taken to the local police department.

25.11.2009 Smarhon resident submits complaint to UN Human Rights Committee

Viktar Kavaleuski from the town of Smarhon, Hrodna region, has submitted an individual complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee, claiming that he was illegally forced to pay membership fee to an organization, while he was not its member, www.smargonbel.byhost.org reports.

25.11.2009 Uladzimer Asipenka charged with terrorist act preparation

According to human rights activist Aleh Vouchak, Vaukavysk businessman Uladzimer Asipenka has been charged with the preparation of an act of terrorism, following similar charges brought against Mikalai Autukhovich a few days earlier.

25.11.2009 Aleh Hulak: ‘The death penalty is a humiliation of people, the right, the present’

Aleh Hulak, head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, has joined the campaign against the death penalty in Belarus. ‘I believe that Belarus must abolish the death penalty. It is savage to allow the state to murder a human being in the XXI century.

25.11.2009 Journalist Shchapiotkina warned by Prosecutor’s Office

Mrs. Tamara Shchapiotkina, independent journalist from the town of Biaroza, Brest region, has received an official warning by Brest Regional Prosecutor’s Office for interviewing on behalf of Radio Racyja. The journalist says the warning is groundless. However, Mrs. Shchapiotkina was told she might be prosecuted in case another warning was issued in future.

25.11.2009 Political prisoner Artsyom Dubski denied release on parole

The arrested participant of the Process of 14 is still in cruel prison conditions and went on three-day hungry strike protesting against arbitrary behaviour of the colony administration.

On November 24, lawyer Tamara Sidarenka visited her client, the arrested participant of the Process of 14 Artsyom Dubski, who has been in Mahilou penal colony #19 since July 2009.