The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

Judge Alena Protas found Kastus Smolikau and Leanid Autukhou, both members of the Belarusian Popular Front’s Vitsebsk office, guilty of violating mass media legislation. The BPF members were charged with distributing the newsletter called “Magistrate,” more than 299 copies of which were found by the police. However, the count was conducted in a rather extraordinary way: not by copies but by “big packs” and “thick bundles” – these were the arguments mentioned in court to prove the illegal excess in the edition’s circulation.

Judge Yury Harbatouski of Minsk Pershamaiski District Court heard today the charges brought against former political prisoner Vasil Parfiankou and fined him 3 mln rubles.

Representative of the Mahiliou house-building combine didn't manage to prove at court that Aliaksei Paulouski didn't do his work properly. Earlier the head of the personnel department of the Mahiliou house-building combine Ina Zahurskaya refused to employ the activist of the Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry Aliaksei Paulouski as he allegedly spent 80% of his working time on talks with workers instead of implementing his professional duties.

The Ministry of Justice took the side of the "Young Front" activist Andrei Tychyna in his long-standing dispute with the Salihorsk District Court.

A member of the Conservative-Christian Party "Belarusian Popular Front" Vital Kavalenka was charged with violating the Law on Mass Events. A week ago similar charges were given to his alley Yan Dziarzhautsau.

Salihorsk District Court didn't grant the appeal of civic activist Uladzimir Shyla against the ban of the picket he intended to hold on Freedom Day, 25 March. The trial was lead by the deputy-head of the court Ala Trafimchuk.