News on the topic: freedom of peaceful assembly
28.08.2007 Detentions and Trials in Niasvizh
In the night of 24-25 August in Niasvizh the police detained four youth activists: Nasta Azarka, A.Dubski, A.Zhukau and Nasta Palazhanka. They were charged with hooliganism for writing ‘Belarus is Sacred’ on a fence. The activists had to spend the rest of the night at Niasvizh district police department. The police ignored Palazhanka’s demand to call a defense lawyer.
28.08.2007 Minsk Youth Hold Action of Protest against Beating of Girls by Police
On 26 August an action of protest against illegal detainments and beatings of the youth opposition activists took place at the crossroads of Niamiha and Haradsky Val streets in the center of Minsk. 20 people installed a street banner ‘When you are at home they are beating up girls’ and the posters running about the events of 16 August.
23.08.2007 Detained Members and Spectators of Svabodny Teatr set Free. Police Compose Report on Pavel Yukhnevich
Directors, actors and spectators of Svabodny Teatr (Free Theatre) headed by Mikalai Khalezin were set free today from the Savetski district police department in Minsk. At the department the detainees were made to write explanatory notes but the police composed no detention or violation reports. The only report was composed against a youth activist Pavel Yukhnevich, who was kept at the police department longer than other detainees. ‘I think that it is connected to his being a political activist. The police just used this occasion to compose a report on him’, commented Khalezin.
22.08.2007 Pavel Seviarynets Sentenced to 15 Days of Jail
On 22 August Maskouski district court of Minsk held the third sitting on an administrative case against a political leader Pavel Seviarynets. The trial was to have taken place on 20 August, but was postponed first to 21 August and then to 22 August because of absence of the police witnesses. All this time Mr. Seviarynets was kept in Brest isolator.
22.08.2007 Action in Peramozhtsau Avenue in Minsk
At about 8 p.m. on 21 August 40 activists of the public campaign For Freedom! came to Peramozhtsau Avenue (former Masherau Avenue)in Minsk. The youth activists flew the flags of the European Union and marched to Maskva cinema. There the street banner running ‘Our Time has Come! European March - 14 October 2007’ was installed.
21.08.2007 Aliaksei Shein’s Complaint Turned down
Minsk city court turned down an appeal of a co-chairman of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Aliaksei Shein against a verdict of Frunzenski district court of Minsk sentencing the activist to 15 days of jail under article 23.34 of the Adminstrative Code (violation of the order of holding mass actions or pickets).
21.08.2007 Medical Diagnose to Tatsiana Tyshkevich after Police Beating
Today the doctors announced diagnoses to Tatsiana Tyshkevich who had been beaten up by the plainclothes staff-members of the special police regiment 16 August when the youth leader Mikita Sasim had been detained. The strike in kidneys provoked the inflammation process in kidneys, the Charter’97 press office was informed by the right activist Iryna Toustsik.
20.08.2007 Salihorsk: Police Detain and Beat Cycle Race Participants
On Sunday, 19 August, activists of Salihorsk branch of Young Front held a circle race that ended with detentions and beatings.
17.08.2007 Chronicle of Events on Solidarity Day, 16 August
On 16 August in Minsk the police used different means to prevent the traditional monthly action of solidarity with political prisoners and families of the missing public and political activists. They behaved most rudely and boldly near St. Joseph’s church in Svabody Square.
16.08.2007 Action of Solidarity with Political Prisoners on Ukrainian Border
Yury Khaschavatski‘s documentary Ploshcha about the March 2006 events in Minsk has been demonstrated at the Belarusian –Ukrainian boarder. People waiting for their turn to cross the boarder form the Ukrainian side are approaching the car with a white-red-white flag and watching the film fragments on the notebook. The documentary DVDs are presented to everybody who cares.
15.08.2007 Kletsk: Criminal Case against Underground Press
Criminal charges have been brought against the underground publisher of Boiki Kletsk bulletin, democratic activist Siarhei Panamarou. That happened several hours after Panamarou’s submitting an application for a picket in support for the political prisoners.
10.08.2007 Hrodna Authorities Prohibit Picket in Support of Political Prisoners
On 9 August the members of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Sviatlana Rudkouskaya and Raman Yurhel and a member of the United Civil Party Andrei Yanushkevich received telephone calls from Leninski borough police department of Hrodna.
08.08.2007 Smaliavichy: Court Justifies Activists Accused of 'Dirty Swearing'
On 7 August in in the central square of Smaliavichy (a town in Minsk region) the action 'Where's The Light?' was held. The matter is that about three months ago the town authorities have turned off the street lamps in order to save the electricity. About 60 persons took part in the action, including both democratic activists and ordinary citizens.
08.08.2007 Minsk: Police Detain Siarzhuk Semianiuk and Iryna Smiayan
On 7 August near Uruchcha tube station activists of BPF Youth handed out leaflets to congratulate people with the 490th anniversary of the issue of the first book on the territory of Belarus by the pioneer of printing Frantsysk Skaryna. All in all, about 700 leaflets were distributed.
07.08.2007 BPF Youth Try to Break through Wall of Official Prohibitions
Minsk officials persistently continue prohibiting pickets against repeal of benefits. However, one of Minsk citizens decided to break through this wall. It is Siarzhuk Semianiuk, deputy chair of the council of the youth wing Belarusian People’s Front, BPF Youth.
