21.09.2009 Vileika activists to face civil charges for installing crosses

On 19 September, three pro-dem activists from Vileika, Minsk region Uladzimir Maliarchuk, Aliaksei Siudak and Ales Narkevich were summonsed to local police department and charged with violating the Law on Mass Actions during the installation of memorial crosses on the execution spot of anti-Soviet combatant Lapitski outside Vileika. ‘Since it is politically-motivated case, this is sure to be a damning verdict,’ says Aliaksei Siudak, ‘I don’t know how they are going to prove that our action was an unauthorized meeting. We neither demand nor assert anything. Nor did we consider any social or political issues. The people simply installed several crosses, prayed and laid flowers.’

17.09.2009 Mazyr human rights activist Pavel Nazdra fined

Mazyr Town Court has convicted local human rights activist Pavel Nazdra of violating Article 28.5 of the Civil Code and fined him BYR 105,000 for failing to submit information upon request from the local military registration and enlistment office, Radio Racyja reports. The activist did not inform the military department of his new job in July 2009. According to Pavel Nazdra, who has already faced several charges initiated by the military department, he is going to appeal the verdict. The activist says his prosecution may be connected with his political and civil activity.

15.09.2009 Mazyr: Civil activist Pavel Nazdra detained and guarded to district court

The reason for the detention is that the local military enlistment office accuses the activist of violating the rights of military registration for the third time already.

11.09.2009 Karnei Piatrovich vs. Baranavichy State University

On 11 September the preliminary court sitting on the lawsuit of the lawyer Karnei Piatrovich against Baranavichy State University took place.

10.09.2009 Ivan Kruk continues appealing against fine for distribution of newspapers

Astravets activist Ivan Kruk has filed a review complaint with the head of Hrodna oblast court Hrynkevich. Mr. Kruk believes that the huge fine (700 000 rubles, about $250) was imposed on him for publishing in the bulletin some information about the danger of the construction of a nuclear power station.

10.09.2009 Minsk: opposition’s action ‘No to Russian Occupation!’ ends with brutal beating, detentions and trials

At 7 p.m. on 9 September several dozens of opposition activists came to Kastrychnitskaya Square in the center of Minsk to mark the Belarusian Military Glory Day (8 September) and protest against the joint Russian-Belarusian strategic military exercises Zapad-2009. The Belarusian democrats believe the forthcoming exercises threaten the independence of Belarus. About 6000 out of 12 500 soldiers, involved in the training, are Russians. The political leaders of Russia have stated several times about possible brining Russian troops to Belarus in case of a threat to Lukashenka’s regime.

08.09.2009 Head of Supreme Court refused to discuss judicial come-offs again

As said by the resident of Babruisk Liubou Sankevich, the head of the Supreme Court Valiantsin Sukala refused to discuss the problem of judicial come-offs with a group of women who disagree with the court decisions on their civil cases or the criminal cases against their relatives, for the third time.

07.09.2009 Aleh Surhan intends to sue against the police torturers

Aleh Surhan, recently by Vitsebsk police, solicited for bringing a criminal case against the officers who had tortured him at the police station.

03.09.2009 Court turns down claim by For Freedom activist

Judge Iryna Smaliakova of Vitsebsk Regional Court has turned down a complaint by For Freedom activist Leanid Autukhou demanding a reversal of her verdict to fine the activist BYR 1,400,000 for participating in an Independence Day action on 27 July. Mr.Autukhou provided numerous evidence of his innocence. However, the judge ignored them, as well as certain procedural violations. The activist says he is going to appeal the decision at the UN Human Rights Committee.

26.08.2009 Oppositionist persecuted for spreading information about prisoner of conscience Dubski

“Young Front” activist from Lida Vadzim Barouski got a summons to appear at a session of the administrative commission in the case of spreading portraits of political prisoner Artsyom Dubski.

As mfront.net reports, activist Vadzim Barouski must go to office 7 in the district executive committee on the address Savetskaya Street 8 at 4:00 p.m. August 26. The summons was signed by commission secretary Y. Yasyukaits. The summons was thrown into a mailbox, but not hand-delivered.

We remind that Vadzim Barouski and Kastus Litsvinski were detained by militia near the railway station in Lida on July 27.

25.08.2009 Brest activist Ilyin fined BYR 140,000

Brest Leninski Court has fined local opposition activist Mikhail Ilyin BYR 140,000 for organizing a picket in downtown Brest on 17 August, convicting him of disorderly conduct. ‘The evidence provided by the policemen who had arrested the picket participants was inaccurate and false. The judge, in his turn, rejected Ilyin’s motion for additional evidence for the defence. Moreover, the judge ignored information concerning the violence used against the picket participants during the arrest,’ says Brest human rights lawyer Raman Kisliak.

18.08.2009 For Freedom activist fined

According to the BelaPAN news agency quoting human rights activist Raman Kisliak, on 18 August Brest Leninski Court convicted For Freedom member Dzianis Turchaniak of disobedience of police order and fined him BYR 1,400,000. According to Mr.Kisliak, the activist was detained on 17 August in downtown Brest during an opposition flash-mob. Dzianis Turchaniak claims he was not taking part in the rally. However, he, together with a Young Front activist Mikhail Ilyin, was arrested and taken to the local police department to be charged with disobedience of orders and disorderly conduct, respectively. Mikhail Ilyin is still to stand trial on 25 August after he made a request for counsel.

18.08.2009 Homel oppositionist fined for EU flag

The administrative commission of the Savetski district of Homel fined activist of the “For Freedom” movement Zinaida Shumilina 175,000 rubles.

As Radio Svaboda reports, the members of the commission and its chairman, deputy head of the district administration Mikhail Shyshkou, decided that Zinaida Shumilina didn’t have the right to hang out a national white-red-white flag, a European flag, and a banner “Hunger Strike of Protest” in her private house.

14.08.2009 Vaukavysk district court justifies oppositionists

Vaukavysk district court retried the case of eight members of the United Civil Party and justified them.

14.08.2009 Hrodna oblast court turned down Ivan Kruk’s appeal

Hrodna oblast court left in force the ruling of Astravets district court by which Ivan Kruk, activist of the civil initiative Astravets nuclear power station is a crime, was fined 700 000 rubles for distribution of printed editions.