21.11.2014 Babruisk: Picketing location busy for indefinite period
Members of the UCP’s Babruisk office petitioned the city authorities asking for permission to hold between 20 and 24 November a series of pickets against the deployment of a Russian military base. The activists believe that the appearance of the base is contrary to Article 18 of the Constitution.
21.11.2014 Activist awaits trial for memorial action in Svislach
Aliaksandr Mekh, activist of the Belarusian Popular Front, visited today the Kobryn district police department. The visit dealt with the case of participation in an unsanctioned rally in the town of Svislach on October 26. In reality, it was a traditional action in memory of the rebels of the 1863-1864 anti-Russian uprising, which is held annually in Svislach, Hrodna region. Participants of the event visit the grave of Viktar Kalinouski, brother of the uprising leader Kastus Kalinouski, laying flowers at places connected with the uprising.
21.11.2014 Mahiliou Regional Court turns down appeal by independent journalist
On November 20, the Mahiliou Regional Court heard an appeal lodged by independent journalist Aliaksandr Burakou against the Court of Mahiliou’s Leninski district, who sentenced him to a fine of 6 mln rubles for violation of legislation on mass media (Art. 22.9, Part 2 of the Administrative Code, “illegal manufacture and distribution of media products”).
21.11.2014 Trade union activist jailed for two days after asking for complaint book
Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk, legal inspector of the independent trade union of radio-electronic industry (REP) from Baranavichy has been unexpectedly sentenced to two days in jail.
21.11.2014 Brest activists ask prosecutor’s office to check work of local MPs
Activists of the civil initiative “Social Office” have written to the Prosecutor’s Office with a request to investigate the actions of the deputies of the Brest City Council, who have not responded to a petition on behalf of the citizens.
21.11.2014 UN Human Rights Committee rules in favor of Homel activist
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has found numerous violations of the right to disseminate information against a United Civil Party activist from Homel Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh. The Committee recommends the Belarusian authorities to restore the activist’s rights, to compensate for all the costs incurred, as well as to change the law “On Mass Events”.
20.11.2014 Political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok faces one more year in prison
On November 20, it was reported that a criminal case was opened against political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok under Part 1, Article 411 of the Criminal Code - willful disobedience of the lawful demands of the administration of the correctional institution. As a result, he may be sentenced to one more year of imprisonment.
20.11.2014 On Judge Palulekh’s code of ethics
On the eve of the hearing of an appeal by activist Yury Rubtsou, who was convicted on criminal charges of “insulting the judge”, human rights activists draw attention to the identity of the “victim” in the case – Judge Kiryl Palulekh of the Court of Minsk’s Savetski district.
20.11.2014 Three more trials expected over photos in Vitsebsk
According to the Vitsebsk police, there were seven participants in an unsanctioned rally – these were the persons whom the police somehow could identify in the photographs. A human rights activist, three journalists, two civil society activists and an unidentified passerby who liked the idea of being photographed near the closed house of culture.
20.11.2014 Rights of BPF activist violated, says UN Human Rights Committee
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has found a violation of the right to peaceful assembly and information in the case of BPF member Siarhei Lazenka. The activist sent his individual communication back in 2008.
20.11.2014 Another activist faces charges over unsanctioned rally in Svislach
On November 18, Anton Mekh, 17, son of activist Aliaksandr Mekh from Kobryn, received a summons from a police officer, saying that he would have to visit the police department over an unauthorized rally in Svislach.
20.11.2014 Asipovichy officials hunt “parasites”
A working group has been formed in Asipovichy district to intensify the monitoring of unemployed people. The group aims at “meeting the demands of the head of state to adopt stringent measures to eliminate dependency and parasitism, implementing the provisions of Article 56 of the Constitution, providing for the obligation of citizens to participate in the financing of public expenses,” according to the website of the newspaper Asipovitski Krai.
19.11.2014 Journalists and activists in Vitsebsk face charges over photos
Several journalists in Vitsebsk were photographed against a background image on the wall of a building – the image of three cages and a paper bird leaving the cages. The people in the photographs are holding paper birds or cages. Now they are invited to the police station and charged with an administrative offense.
19.11.2014 Ales Bialiatski: “Back in June, Intigam Aliyev was wearing a T-shirt with my portrait, now it’s me who’s wearing a T-shirt with his portrait” (video)
A group of civil society representatives and lawyers in Azerbaijan have petitioned the country’s President Ilham Aliyev with a call to assist in the release of prominent human rights activist Intigam Aliyev, head of the Legal Education Society.
19.11.2014 Activist in Hrodna fined over Ukraine solidarity flyers
On 18 November, the Leninski District Court of Hrodna considered the administrative case of local activist Volha Krapotsina, who was detained on 19 September when handing out leaflets in support of Ukraine. Judge Dzmitry Bubenchyk found the activist guilty of “illicit manufacturing and distributing of printed materials” (Art. 22.9, Part 2 of the Administrative Code) and fined her 4.5 million rubles.
