The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

The Salihorsk authorities have recently banned six events organized by the local civil and political activists. The formal reason in all cases is alleged violation of Article 8 of the Law “On Mass Events” - placement of information about the actions on the web before their authorization.

The Maskouski district administrative commission of Minsk considered the case of Uladzislau Lobau, an under-aged activist of the Belarusian National-Bolshevik Party who took part in spilling noodles and scattering leaflets at the entrance of the Belarusian State TV and Radio Company on 3 December 2011. The youngsters did it to express their protest against false information regularly spread by the state media.

A picket in support of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski and other political prisoners in Belarus was held near the Belarusian Embassy in Stockholm on 31 January. It was organized by the Swedish human rights initiative Östgruppen in cooperation with Civil Rights Defenders, the Swedish branch of Amnesty International and the Swedish Union of Writers.

Viktar Malochka, retired police lieutenant-colonel, applied to the Prosecutor General, A.Kaniuk, with the request to hold a repeated check-up concerning his unlawful detentions in summer 2011 and false testimonies given by officers of the Salihorsk District Police Department.

Members of the Mahiliou region branch of the Belarusian Leftist Party “Fair World” intended to hold a picket at 12 a.m. on 28 January in order to protest against the people's pauperization. The picket was to have taken place at the “Khimik” stadium, the only place determined for opposition's actions by a special ruling of the city authorities. However, the authorities refused to authorize the action. The alleged reason is that a mass sportive event will be held at the stadium at the specified time.

The Brest Regional Court confirmed the ruling of the Leninski District Court of Brest concerning the ban of a series of pickets under the slogan “Freedom to Political Prisoners!” by the Brest City Executive Committee in autumn 2011.

Pyotr Ivanov, a citizen of the Russian Federation, was detained for handing out leaflets calling to support an imprisoned oppositionist from Vitsebsk in court.

On 12 January the Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk considered the appeal of disabled Uladzimir Marozau against the refusal of the Pershamaiski District Procuracy of Minsk to instigate a criminal case against the policemen who had smothered the man during a peaceful protest action.

On 12 January Siarhei Shytsikau, Judge of the Tsentralny District Court of Homel, turned down the appeal of the Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka against the refusal of the Homel City Executive Committee to authorize their picket, dated to the Human Rights Day, 10 December.

A member of the United Civil Party, collector of signatures for holding of a People’s Assembly Mikalai Iliiushonak. Mikalai had received a telephone call from the Barysau City Police Department before the New Year holidays and was told to come there. However, he demanded to be issued with an official summons first.