The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2011

25.03.2011 Mop-up operation

Attempts to arrest opposition activists preventively started since early morning.

25.03.2011 Verdict to Parfiankou upheld

On 25 March, Minsk City Court considered the cassational appeal by Vasil Parfiankou, convicted of involvement in the 19 December 2010 mass riot, and upheld the 4-year sentence by an inferior court.

25.03.2011 Administrative prosecution of Mahiliou 17-year-old opposition activist closed

On 24 March, Mahiliou juvenile delinquency commission considered the administrative case of local opposition activist Hanna Shkadun, charged with participation in an unauthorized solidarity picket on 16 January 2011. As a result, the charges were withdrawn due to the expiry of the statute of limitation.

24.03.2011 Liabedzka's lawyer meets with her client for the first time

Anatol Liabedzka's lawyer met with her client for the first time on March 22. The meeting lasted for more than an hour.

24.03.2011 Concise analytical review of the trial of Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobau: Concluding Part

On 23 March, Minsk Maskouski District Court continued hearing the malicious hooliganism case of Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobau. The court session was opened by the examination of witness Mrs. Sviatlana Harbachova, employee of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

24.03.2011 Minsk court upholds revocation of Uladzimir Toustsik advocate’s license

On 24 March, Minsk Maskouski District Court dismissed an appeal by lawyer Uladzimir Toustik against the Ministry of Justice’s decision to revoke his advocate’s license of 16 March, together with three other lawyers – Tamara Harayeva, Aleh Aheyeu and Tatsiana Aheyeva.

24.03.2011 Vitsebsk police detain local opposition activists

On 24 March, Vitsebsk city police detained local opposition activist Siarhei Kavalenka for staging an unauthorized picket in the central Lenin Street.

24.03.2011 Russian journalist and HR defender sentenced to 3 days of arrest

Judge Inna Kokhava of Orsha District Court found Russian journalist and human rights defender Alexander Loshmankin of disorderly conduct and sentenced him to 3 days of administrative arrest.

24.03.2011 Trial of Likhavid postponed till 29 March

The trial of Mikita Likhavid, facing charges for involvement in the 19 December mass riot, has been postponed till 29 March, after the defense lawyer Mrs. Darya Lipkina said she could not appear in court due to the illness of her child.

24.03.2011 Dashkevich sentenced to 2 years, Lobau -- 4 years in high-security prison

At about 12 a.m. today, Judge Alena Shylko of Minsk Maskouski District Court found the Young Front leaders Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobau guilty of committing a malicious hooliganism. Zmitser Dashkevich has been sentenced to two years of imprisonment, Eduard Lobau -- four years in a high-security prison.

23.03.2011 More detentions outside Minsk Maskouski Court

Four persons – youth activists Zmitser Khvedaruk, Andrus Tychyna and Illia Shyla, as well as another unidentified teenager – were detained outside Minsk Maskouski District Court at about 5 p.m.

23.03.2011 Barysau activist questioned and warned

On 23 March, Barysau activist Maksim Maroz was questioned by local police. The activist was asked about Barysau resident Aliaksandr Malchanau, convicted of involvement in the 19 December 2010 mass riot.

23.03.2011 Hrodna police issue numerous warnings to local pro-dem activists ahead of Freedom Day

At least eight Hrodna pro-democratic activists have been warned by the city police about possible prosecution for involvement in the 25 March Freedom Day celebrations in Minsk.

23.03.2011 Judge Shykarou fines Vitsebsk activist Khamaida for third time

On 23 March, Vitsebsk opposition activist Barys Khamaida was fined BYR 1,050,000 for allegedly arranging an unauthorized picket in the city center. This is Khamaida’s third fine within a month on the similar charges pronounced by the same judge Uladzislau Shykarou of Vitsebsk Chuhynachny Court.

23.03.2011 Concise analytical review of the trial of Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobau: Day 1

On 22 March 2011, Minsk Maskouski District Court hosted the trial of the Young Front leader Zmitser Dashkevich and the organization’s Minsk city office head Eduard Lobau. The activists face charged of malicious hooliganism (Par. 3 Art. 339 of the Criminal Code), namely an attack on two persons, allegedly committed on 18 December 2010. They are also accused of using a crow-bar during the attack.