The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

17.03.2011 Vitsebsk activist Khamaida fined BYR 1,050,000

On 17 March, Vitsebsk Chyhunachny District Court reviewed the administrative case of local opposition activist Barys Khamaida, found guilty of arranging an unauthorized picket, after an earlier acquitting verdict was reversed.

17.03.2011 Hrodna youth activists fined

On 16 March, the administrative commission of Hrodna Leninski district fined local youth activists Volha Bahdanovich and Katsiaryna Herasimchyk BYR 350,000 each, detained on 11 and 12 February for posting opposition stickers around the city.

16.03.2011 Mahiliou minor activist faces ante-date charges

On 15 March, Mahiliou activist Natallia Shkadun received a letter with an enclosed report of administrative offence allegedly committed by her under-aged daughter Hanna during a solidarity picket on 16 January 2011.

15.03.2011 Salihorsk police are looking for Ivan Shyla

In the evening of 14 March a police inspector phoned to the home phone of Ivan's father and told that he needed to bring Ivan to court. However, he was unable to explain the reasons. The policeman also asked about the whereabouts of Ivan's brother, Illia.

11.03.2011 Mahiliou Region Court upholds verdicts to participants of solidarity pickets

As said by lawyer Barys Bukhel, the Mahiliou Region Court left standing the verdicts of the Leninski District Court of Mahiliou.

10.03.2011 Court refuses to reinstate teacher Natallia Illinich at work

Sviatlana Akulich, Judge of the Pukhavichy District Court, agreed that the dismissal of a teacher of history Natalia Ilyinich was lawful.

10.03.2011 Administrative case against Kastus Shytal is dropped

The trial on the case of Kastys Shytal, a civil activist from the town of Hlybokaye, journalist for westki.info, lasted for 5 minutes. Judge of the Hlybokaye District Court Iryna Kazak ruled to drop the case due to the expiry of the terms for administrative punishment.

09.03.2011 Trial of observer of Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections scheduled for 10 March

Kastus Shytal, a civil activist from the town of Hlybokaye, a correspondent with the internet edition westki.info, received a summons to the Hlybokaye District Court for 10 March. He had been an observer of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee during the latest presidential election.

01.03.2011 Mahiliou: Maksim Antsypovich fined 525,000 rubles for participation in unauthorized picket

On 1 March Iryna Saroka, judge of the Mahiliou Leninski District Court, considered the administrative case of Maksim Antsypovich, charged with participation in an unauthorized picket on 16 January, and fined him 525,000 rubles (about $175).

28.02.2011 Barys Khamaida fined 1 million for white-red-white flag

The previous verdicts of "not guilty" pronounced by the Railway Court are being considered by the Regional Court.

15.02.2011 Vadzim Kabanchuk sentenced to 10 days of arrest

In the morning of 15 February Vadzim's mother, Taisiya Kabanchuk, was waiting for him at the Maskouski District Court of Minsk, where he was to have been taken for a trial. His friends phoned to all Minsk courts trying to find about the time and place of the trial. Only in the afternoon they were informed that the trial had already taken place, Vadzim had been sentenced to 10 days of arrest for participation in the 19 December protest action in central Minsk, and guarded to the delinquents' isolation center in Akrestsin Street.

09.02.2011 12 days of arrest for visit to Catholic church

On 8 February Yauhen Khatkevich, Judge of the Maskouski District Court of Minsk, sentenced a Minsk resident Mikhas Lebedz to 12 days of arrest.

08.02.2011 Mahiliou: imprisoned for action of solidarity

On 8 February the Leninski District Court of Mahiliou considered the administrative case of Valiantsin Labachou, Siarhei Niahatsin and Natallia Shkadun, participants of an action of solidarity with the families of the missing political activists held in Mahiliou on 16 January.

31.01.2011 Minsk court convicts participants of yesterday’s picket

Minsk Tsentralny Court considered the civil charges brought against 7 persons for participation in yesterday’s solidarity picket outside the KGB central office.