The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

"Prisoners of conscience remained in detention; some were sentenced to increased prison terms for violating prison rules. Civil society activists, including human rights defenders and journalists, faced violations of their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association. Three men were executed," says the Belarus country section of the Report.

Hrodna human rights defender and journalist Uladzimir Khilmanovich has been summoned to the KGB’s regional department after he received a phone call from a KGB officer Dalhikh.

Slonim district police department has summoned and questioned two more people for taking part in the Freedom Day celebrations on 25 March. Police Major Ihar Klybik questioned Viktar Marchyk and Albert Hlinnik, telling them “not to engage in this nonsense anymore.” The activists refused to provide any written explanations.

Slonim police questioned today UCP activists, brothers Siarhei and Andrei Bialkos. They were summoned to the district police department over their involvement in the celebration of Freedom Day, 25 March.

Aliaksandr Balobin, an activist of the “Tell the Truth” campaign from the town of Klimavichy, was detained yesterday morning outside the building of Klimavichy district military conscription commission by two unknown men who introduced themselves as KGB officers. Aliaksandr Balobin was pushed into a car and taken to another town, KGB’s Krychau interdistrict department, where he was interrogated for three hours.

Siarhei Trafimchyk, regional coordinator of the “For Freedom” opposition movement from the town of Biarozauka, Hrodna region, is facing groundless harassment from local police. On March 22 he received a phone call from the head of Lida district police department who asked the activist to appear for an interview.

Valiantsin Lazarenkau and Aliaksandr Kuzmin, activists of the Tell the Truth civil campaign, were questioned yesterday as witnesses by Biaroza district police deputy chief Senior Lieutenant Mikalai Prakurat.