News on the topic: freedom of association
16.03.2012 Ministry of Education: warnings to students “contribute to the exercise of right to education”
Aliaksandr Saldatsenka, activist of the European Belarus opposition movement expelled from Minsk State Linguistic University for involvement in rallies of solidarity with political prisoners, has received replies from the Ministry of Education and Minsk Partyzanski District Prosecutor’s Office concerning a warning issued by the University rector Mrs. Natallia Baranava.
09.03.2012 Detention of "European Belarus" activist
Alena Lazarchuk, an activist of the civil movement "European Belarus", was detained at the metro station "Spartyunaya" in the morning of 8 March, while posting portraits of political prisoner Andrei Sannikau who celebrated his 58th birthday that day. She was guarded to the Frunzenski District Police Bureau and charged with violation of Article 21.14 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (violation of urban maintenance rules).
22.02.2012 Assembly of Belarusian Pro-Democratic NGOs marks 15 years of activity
On 22 February, the Assembly of Belarusian Pro-Democratic NGOs marks its 15th anniversary, being the largest association of Belarus’ non-governmental organizations, with over 300 member-organizations across the country.
16.02.2012 Riot police raid office of European Belarus
Riot police raided the Minsk office of an opposition group called European Belarus on Wednesday evening, claiming that they had been tipped off about drugs in the apartment.
16.02.2012 BCD gets ultimate denial of registration
The Ministry of Justice of Belarus took a final decision to deny registration to the Belarusian Christian Democracy party.
15.02.2012 Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh still struggles for proper acquittal
On 15 February Aliaksandr Suzhayeu, Judge of the Homel Regional Court, considered the appeal of activist of the United Civil Party and Movement “For Freedom!” Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh against the ruling of the Tsentralny District court of Homel which upheld the dropping of his case because of the impossibility to prove his guilt.
13.02.2012 Three activists of “European Belarus” detained in Dziarzhynsk
The activists of the “European Belarus” Uladzimir Dzenisevich, Anatol Zhuletnikau and Aliaksandr Tarnahurski were detained at 1.30 p.m. on 11 February, while trying to hang out a streamer with the inscription “Freedom to Bialiatski!”.
10.02.2012 Baranavichy: Mikalai Charnavus gets fined by court
On 10 February the Baranavichy City Court considered administrative case against the head of the steering committee of the Ukrainian diaspora association “Kobzar”, Mikalai Charnavus. Judge Stanislau Pivavarau summoned to the trial a representative of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee Siarhei Piatsihorau and police major Vital Dabrachynski.
07.02.2012 Three participants of solidarity rallies expelled from Minsk Linguistic University
On 6 February, three activists of the European Belarus opposition movement were expelled from Minsk State Linguistic University, following their conviction for involvement in a series of rallies of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners.
03.02.2012 Soviet of the Republic: Article 193-1 “protects universally accepted human rights and fundamental freedoms”
The Soviet of the Republic sees no need to initiate the abolishment of Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, which penalizes activities on behalf of organizations that are not registered with the state.
30.01.2012 Hrodna journalist summonsed to KGB
The Hrodna journalist Hrazhyna Shalkevich was summonsed to the Hrodna regional KGB department. They wanted to pass her an official summons on Saturday evening, but she was absent from home. At about 2 p.m. on Sunday she was visited by a police officer, who issued her with a summons for 6 p.m. of that day. The journalist wasn’t told why she was to come to the KGB department on a day-off, Sunday.
23.01.2012 Experts release report on freedom of association in 2011
On 23 January, experts of the Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs and the Center for Legal Transformation presented the results of monitoring of the situation with non-governmental organizations and freedom of association in Belarus in 2011.
19.01.2012 Belarusian Christian Democracy denied registration again
The Belarusian Christian Democracy party has been denied state registration for the fourth time straight, said Minister of Justice Aleh Slizheuski at a press-conference on 19 January.
18.01.2012 European Belarus activist detained in Minsk
On 17 January, Minsk police detained activist of the European Belarus opposition movement Danil Hancharou and his friend Iryna Arekhouskaya.
17.01.2012 Activists launch online campaign demanding abolition of Article 193.1
On 17 January, Belarusian civil society activists launched an online signature-raising campaign for the abolition of Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code, which provides for up to two years in prison for illegal NGO membership, www.belaruspartisan.org reports.
