The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2011

29.03.2011 Mikita Likhavid sentenced to 3.5 years in high-security prison in mass riot trial

Judge Natallia Pykina of Minsk Partyzanski District Court found Mikita Likhavid, activist of the For Freedom opposition movement, guilty of involvement in the 19 December 2010 mass riot and sentenced him to 3.5 years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony.

29.03.2011 Homel activist appeals illegal arrest

Homel opposition activist Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh has lodged a complaint with Homel Regional Court, arguing that he was illegally prosecuted for alleged disorderly conduct on 25 March.

29.03.2011 Baranavichy human rights defender appeals illegal interrogation by KGB

On 28 March, Baranavichy human rights defender Siarhei Housha lodged a complaint with the city court against local KGB department.

29.03.2011 Raman Kisliak, detained in Brest, released without charges

According to Kisliak, he disseminated 35 copies of the bulletin "Don't Fear!" before detention.

29.03.2011 Lyapis Trubetskoi’s concerts cancelled in Minsk

According to “Reactor”, the reason is technical but has not been defined yet. The Lyapises are thinking about the cancellation of the last 3 concerts of their tour.

28.03.2011 Aleh Hnedchyk arrested and charged

Aleh Hnedchyk has been charged under Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (“mass riot”), human rights defenders report.

28.03.2011 Mahiliou court convicts journalist and BPF leader

On 28 March, Mahiliou Leninski District Court sentenced Uladzimir Laptsevich, reporter of the BelaPAN news agency, to 7 days of administrative arrest for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

28.03.2011 Journalist Poczobut charged with libel of President

Andrzej Poczobut, reporter of the Gazeta Wyborcza Polish newspaper, is facing charges for libel of President, reports www.belaruspartisan.org, quoting Hrodna Regional Prosecutor Mr. Marozau.

28.03.2011 Iryna Lohvin interrogated by KGB

Members of the steering BCD committee have been summoned for interrogations by Minsk KGB as witnesses in the “mass disorders” case.

28.03.2011 Police illegally seize property of youth activists

Minsk police seized private property of youth activists Yulia Yankovich, Ksenia Antonava, Dzmitry Yakubouski, Katsiaryna Erusalimskaya, Siarhei Huminski and Polish national Krzysztof Kirdzik, after they were detained and taken to Frunzenski District police department.

28.03.2011 Minsk court convicts March 25 detainees

Minsk Savetski District Court considered the cases of Viktar Ivashkevich, Mikola Dzemidzenka and Iryna Hubskaya, detained during the 25 March Freedom Day rally. Viktar Ivashkevich and Iryna Hubskaya faced charges for alleged disorderly conduct (Art. 17.1 of the Civil Code).

28.03.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (March 21-27)

On 22 March, two Minsk courts opened the hearings on politically motivated criminal cases: Young Front leaders Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobau faced charged for malicious hooliganism and were eventually convicted (Dashkevich was sentenced to 2 years and Lobau – to 4 years in a high-security penal colony). The trial of youth opposition activist Mikita Likhavid accused of participation in the 19 December 2010 mass riot was postponed till 29 March. An unprecedented number of police employees (31) act as victims in the case. The historic 25 March Freedom Day anniversary was marked by harsh repressions against opposition and independent media. Meanwhile, the authorities banned all opposition rallies across the country, preventing local activists from going to Minsk. Two journalists were sentenced to administrative arrests – Aliaksandr Lashmankin (editor of the Russian Svoboda news agency) and BelaPAN Mahiliou reporter Ales Asiptsou. Another journalist Uladzimir Laptsevich is currently in custody awaiting trial on similar charges.

28.03.2011 KGB defines three more Square case suspects

It is said in the report distributed by the KGB Information and Public Relations Centre on March 26.

28.03.2011 Young Front activist detained in Brest

On 26 March, Brest police detained local activist of the Young Front opposition movement Ms. Palina Panasiuk.

28.03.2011 Former presidential hopeful to initiate referendum on Lukashenka’s resignation

Former presidential hopeful, Vitsebsk entrepreneur Uladzimir Pravalski believes President Aliaksandr Lukashenka should step down due to lack of confidence among voters, addressing Belarusian citizens with an appeal to join a campaign for launching a referendum on Lukashenka’s resignation.