The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News on the topic: criminal prosecution

30.08.2007 Trial of Young Front Activist Yaraslau Hryshchenia to Take Place on 10 September

On 29 August the youth activist Yaraslau Hryshchenia received a summons from Baranavichy district court. According to this document the trial will start at 9.30 a.m. on 10 September. The name of the judge is not known yet. Hryshchenia is charged under article 193.1 of the Criminal Code, ‘activities on behalf of unregistered organization’. On 4 September the Young Front activists Ivan Shyla and Nasta Azarka will be tried: the former in Salihorsk and the latter – in Niasvizh.

30.08.2007 Minsk City Court Leaves Verdict to Kanstantsin Lukashou in Force

In the evening of 28 August Minsk city court left unchanged the verdict to Kanstantsin Lukashou, two years of conditional imprisonment for alleged resistance to the police.

30.08.2007 Criminal Cases Can Be Brought against More Young Front Members

The prosecutor’s office of Baranavichy has brought a criminal case on the fact of making political graffiti on the walls of Baranavichy city court.

30.08.2007 Russian Citizen on Hunger-strike in Minsk Prison

On 24 August the citizen of Russia Nikolai Kostishev imprisoned in jail #1 went on hunger-strike. The organizing committee for creation of the Belarusian committee for protection of prisoners’ rights Over the Barrier was informed about it by one of the prisoner’s relatives.

23.08.2007 Trial of ‘Young Front’ Activist Ivan Shyla Appointed on 4 September

At 10 a.m. on 4 September Salihorsk town court will consider a criminal case against the activist of an unregistered organization Young Front Ivan Shyla. 16-year-old Shyla is charged with activity on behalf of unregistered organization (article 193.1 of the Criminal Code).

15.08.2007 Chair of Shklou BPF Office Stays behind Bars

The chair of Shklou office of Belarusian People’s Front Party Aliaksandr Fiodarau will stay in jail, at least till the end of the investigation. The prosecutor of Shklou district Ihar Sitnikou denied the lawyer’s petition for change of the restraint to his client.

27.07.2007 Belarusian Helsinki Committee: Sentence to Coordinator of Russian Nazis in Homel Is Unfair

The national public association Belarusian Helsinki Committee is disappointed with the fact that the activity of the coordinator of Russian National Unity (RNE) in Homel Mikhail Yakauchuk was qualified under article 193.1 of the Criminal Code (activity on behalf of unregistered organization). Earlier such article was used against political opposition. Yakauchuk was sentenced to 6 months of jail.

19.07.2007 Zmitser Dashkevich Week

On July 20th Zmitser Dashkevich, leader of Young Front and unbending youth activist, turns 26. On November 1st, 2006 he was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment for acting on behalf of an unregistered organization. Zmitser is serving the sentence in Shklou prison. International Amnesty recognized the youth activist a prisoner of conscience.

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.

11.07.2007 Criminal Case against Youth Activist Yaraslau Hryshchenia Prolonged for 2 More Months

The youth activist Yaraslau Hryshchenia was summonsed to Baranavichy district prosecutor’s office. The investigator Yuliya Askaldovich informed him that the criminal case against him was prolonged for 2 more months. Mr. Hryshchenia is suspected in violating article 193 of the Criminal Code, ‘activity on behalf of unregistered organization’. On Friday analogical case against another youth activist, Ivan Shyla, was passed to court. Most probably, Shyla will be judged in August.

11.07.2007 Break till 25 July Announced in Lukashou’s Case

Today at 11.30 a.m. a verdict on Kanstantsin Lukashou’s case was to have been read. We should remind that yesterday the state accuser demanded to sentence Mr. Lukashou to 2 years of conditional imprisonment.

11.07.2007 Political Prisoner Artur Finkevich Threatened with New Criminal Case

The head of Mahiliou special commandant’s office, lieutenant colonel Aliaksandr Lamaza reminded Artur Finkevich that he is a malicious violator of discipline, and a criminal action can be brought up against him, and a place of detention can be changed.