The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 19 Feb 2010

19.02.2010 Human rights defenders insist on negotiations with administration of law-enforcement agencies

On 19 February, members of the Belarusian human rights organizations and movements submitted to the heads of different law-enforcement agencies a written request to enter proposals concerning the format, time and place of negotiations and delegate their representatives for participation in them.

19.02.2010 Filing applications for registration of initiative groups is over: information from regions

According to the timing schedule of the elections, the period of filing applications for registration or initiative groups of pretenders to the local Soviets of Deputies, ended on 18 February in the evening. According to the law, registration of an initiative group is conducted during five days after receiving an application. Thus, it will end on 23 February.

19.02.2010 Alternative civilian service: criminal persecution instead of law

Despite the fact that drafting of the law on alternative service has been initiated by President Lukashenka, officers of military enlistment offices continue the drafting of the people whom they consider as evading from military service.

19.02.2010 Salihorsk: heads of enterprises are warned

On 18 February, representatives of the largest state enterprises of the town were gathered in the Salihorsk district executive committee for ‘prophylactic instructional advice on the eve of the agitation campaign of the pretenders to the local Soviets of Deputies.

19.02.2010 Aleh Surhan sentenced to six months of arrest

On 19 February, the Kastrychnitski district court in Vitsebsk sentenced Aleh Surhan, 47, to six month of arrest and obliged him to pay 2.5 million rubles as compensation to the alleged victim, policeman Siarhei Dudkevich. The arrest term is calculated from 27 January, the day when Surhan was detained.

19.02.2010 ’Young Front’ activist is threatened with criminal case for evasion from military service

Piatro Ruzau, activist of the Baranavichy branch of the Young Front who studies on Kastus Kalinouski educational program in Poland, is threatened with instigation of a criminal case for evasion from military service.

19.02.2010 Hrodna: BAJ member not admitted to press conference

On 17 February Viktar Parfionenka, member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, wasn’t admitted to the quarterly press conference in the Hrodna oblast executive committee dedicated to development of the region. It was the first press conference with participation of Ivan Zhuk as acting Chairperson of the Hrodna oblast executive committee.