The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

15.08.2007 Prosecutor’s Office and KGB Put Eye on BUNT

Minsk city prosecutor’s office summons for interrogations members of an unregistered movement BUNT. Human rights activists do not rule out that soon a new criminal case against youth activists can be brought.

14.08.2007 Mahiliou: Armed Policemen Block Private House

Armed policemen have blocked a private house in Chkalau Street 16 in Mahiliou where a seminar of the oppositional movement with participation of representatives of Polish NGOs was taking place. The seminar participants do not let the police in. The house is ringed by nine policemen, three of whom have arms. There are also several persons in mufti as well.

13.08.2007 Criminal Case against Opposition Activist Features Samples of Telephone Bugging

The criminal case against the activist of Young Front Yaraslau Hryshchenia (brought under article 193.1 of the criminal case, ‘activity on behalf of unregistered organization’) contains materials that were received by the investigation by bugging his mobile telephone that was registered on a different name. There are about 20 minutes of recorded talks.

13.08.2007 Baranavichy: Viktar Parnachou Ordered not to Disconnect Phones

Today, on 13 August, a 22-year-old resident of Baranavichy Viktar Parnachou received an order from the police not to disconnect his home and mobile phones. He was also warned about possible summons to Baranavichy city police department of internal affairs.

13.08.2007 Why Become a BRSM Member?

According to the charted, the public association Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM) is aimed at all-sided development of youth and revelation of its creative potential, creation of a civil society based pm the spiritual and moral values of the Belarusian people’.

03.08.2007 Minsk: Young Front Sues Justice Department of Executive Committee

Activists of Young Front have sued to Minsk city court against the justice department of Minsk city executive committee to make the latter execute the law on public associations and register the organization.

31.07.2007 Human Rights Activists of Viasna Again Try to Obtain State Registration

On 23 July an initiative group of human rights activists applied to the Ministry of Justice for registration of the human rights public association Viasna. In the time when the authorities liquidate many NGOs and refuse to register new ones (as it recently happened to the human rights movement For Freedom!), a group of Belarusian human rights activists decided to unite their forces and try getting a state registration. A well-known human rights activist Ales Bialiatski, vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) told us about the reasons which influenced this decision and the situation of the civil right to association in Belarus:

24.07.2007 Ministry of Justice Refuses to Register "For Freedom!" Movement

The Ministry of Justice refused to register the national human rights public association For Freedom! movement. On 21 July the co-founders of the NGO received an official answer from the ministry.

17.07.2007 Criminal Charges Brought against Nasta Azarka

The first interrogation of Nasta Azarka is to take place on Friday.

12.07.2007 Another Refusal to Register 'Young Front'

The justice department of Minsk city executive committee again refused to register Minsk city public association Young Front. It is already the second refusal to register the organization. Earlier the CEC justice department refused to register it for mismatches in the charter.

12.07.2007 Criminal Case against Union of Poles in Belarus Terminated

The Belarusian authorities have stopped criminal proceedings against 4 members of the Union of Poles in Belarus. Veslau Keuliak, Andzhei Pachobut, Yozef Pazhetski, and Andzhei Pisalnik can now address Hrodna police and get a stamp in passports which allow leaving Belarus for all countries of the world.

12.07.2007 Hrodna: Unknown Person Damages Polish Diplomat’s Car

Today night unknown daubed black the car of consul Marcin Krasinski, a worker of the General Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Hrodna. Number plates and wind-screen were damaged by the word ‘butcher’ and indecent pictures.

12.07.2007 Hrodna: Unknown Person Damages Polish Diplomat’s Car

Today night unknown daubed black the car of consul Marcin Krasinski, a worker of the General Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Hrodna. Number plates and wind-screen were damaged by the word ‘butcher’ and indecent pictures.

11.07.2007 ‘Supolnasts’ to Be Liquidated?

Center Supolnasts, registered by the Ministry of Justice as Minsk city public association, faces liquidation. The liquidation trial is appointed on Friday, 13 July.