05.03.2009 Baranavichy: trial over picketer

Today in Baranavichy there took place the first sitting of the administrative case against Ryhor Hryk. The police accuse hum of organization of an unauthorized picket and distribution of non-state press.

05.03.2009 Brest: court upholds picket ban

The judge of Leninski district court of Brest Alena Dzenisenka turned down the complaint of the human rights activist Reman Kisliak and three more people against the ruling of Brest city executive committee for banning their picket in the center of the city.

04.03.2009 Fined for action in support of Belarusian language

The court of Tsentralny district of Homel has fined participants of the rally in support of the native language 525 000 rubles ($185).

03.03.2009 'Young Front' activists are fined for action in front of presidential administration

Five activists of the Young Front were detained for an unauthorized picket. They were standing with a streamer ‘No to political terror!’ in front of the administration of Lukashenka.

02.03.2009 Supreme Court turns down Siarhei Panamarou’s cassation complaint

The deputy head of the Supreme Court Valer Kalinkovich upheld the verdict of Kletsk district court, according to which an activist of For Freedom movement was fined for allegedly preparing an unsanctioned mass action.

26.02.2009 Brest: court turns down complaint of BSDP ‘Hramada’ against picket ban in Brest

On 25 February Leninski district court of Brest turned down the appeal of Brest city organization of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada against the ban of the picket against the deterioration of the life standards of the region’s dwellers.

26.02.2009 Haradok: Leanid Autukhou has lost the trial, but does not give in

Haradok district court turned down the lawsuit of Leanid Autukhou against the deputy head of Haradok distirct executive committee for violation of the constitutional right of citizens to peaceful assembly.

24.02.2009 Solidarity picket held in Minsk

On 23 February several activists of the Young Front unregistered youth organizations held a picket of solidarity with Artsiom Dubski, one of the persons involved in the notorious ‘case of 14’, in downtown Minsk. Earlier this year the general prosecutor’s office initiated a criminal prosecution of the activist for cell communication fraud. Artsiom Dubski was arrested on 13 February as he was crossing the Ukrainian border and taken to Babruisk detention center. He was accused of evading the verdict. The trial is due on 3 March. The peaceful rally was not stopped by the police. The activist’s party-mates said they were going to hold similar actions daily unless Dubski is released.

24.02.2009 Pickets in support of political prisoners near pre-trial detention center in Valadarski Street

Pickets of solidarity with new political prisoners continue to take place near the pre-trial detention center of city militia department of the Minsk city executive committee.

At 6.00 p.m. February 23, activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” came to the pre-trial detention center in Valadarski Street. They held portraits of Maksim Dashuk, a new Belarusian political prisoner, arrested on Monday. In spite of attempts of riot militia to stop it, the picket lasted for 30 minutes, as it was planned.

23.02.2009 Activists detained for celebrating Mother Language Day

Homel Thsentralny Borough Court sentenced Kastus Zhukouski to 7 days of arrest for participating in a Mother Language Day action in downtown Homel. Vasil Takarenka, Marysia Tulzankova and Ales Viartseika were fined BYR 700,000 each. The teenagers were standing in the center of Homel holding posters with the words ‘Mother Tongue’ and a Russian phrase ‘Banned’ across. Their mouths were covered with green and red ribbons. NB: International Mother Language Day, celebrated annually on February 21, aims to promote the recognition and practice of the world’s mother tongues, particularly minority ones.

19.02.2009 Anti-nuclear power station construction rally banned

Hrodna Regional Court has turned down the claim by an Astravets civil activist Mikola Ulasevich, urging to reverse the decision by the local authorities to ban a series of pickets of protest against the construction of a nuclear power plant in Astravets district. According to the activist, the court’s decision was initiated by the executive power, which keeps harassing civil activists attempting to oppose the construction of the nuclear power plant in Astravets. However, Mr.Ulasevich is going to appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court of Belarus.

19.02.2009 “Hunt” of participants of solidarity action in Barysau

Participants of the action of solidarity, held in Barysau on February 16, are threatened with expulsion from education establishments.

As the Charter’97 press center has learnt from the activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Aleh Haravy, pupils of the 9th form of school #8 Mikita Halakhvastau and Artur Dzivin were called to the school administration on Wednesday. The headmaster had some conversations with Halakhvastau, Dzivin, and their parents. She asked the boys to explain in written form why they had participated in the action of solidarity. Then the headmaster said Halakhvastau and Dzivin would be visited “by people from Minsk” on February 19.

17.02.2009 Young Front activists lodge complaint against police violence

A number of Young Front members have lodged a claim with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the General Prosecutor’s office against the excessive use of violence by the riot police during the 14 February action. The claim features several testimonies by participants of the action.

16.02.2009 HR Center Viasna issues statement on brutal dispersal of 14 February peaceful action

On 14 February 2008 the unregistered Young Front organization conducted a peaceful youth demonstration. In spite of the fact that the action was peaceful, the demonstrators were attacked by representatives of the Belarusian riot police, using violence and compliance weapons. As a result, dozens of citizens were beaten up. However, none of the participants of the action was detained, which indicates the deliberate character of the violent actions, aimed at intimidation and display of power by the Belarusian authorities. The violence used was demonstrative and deliberately excessive. It should be observed that the action was preceded by a series of searches at the private apartments of the Young Front members.

13.02.2009 Anti-nuclear pickets are banned again

The authorities still don’t authorize actions of protest against the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Astravets district. The executive committees of Vileika and Maladzechna did not grant the petitions for authorization of anti-nuclear pickets in these towns.