26.02.2009 Vitsebsk: court justifies human rights activist Shchukin

Vitsebsk oblast court abolished because of absence of the corpus delicti the verdict of Pershamaiski district court according to which Valer Shchukin was to be punished for petty hooliganism.

25.02.2009 Issue of ARCHE magazine found “extremist”

Today morning a trial has started in Brest. It is to recognize the 7-8th issue of the independent “ARCHE” magazine extremist.

Judge has announced that the session of the court is to be held behind the closed doors, so only a KGB representative and the lawyer of the magazine are present at the hearings.

People who have gathered to support the magazine and its editors haven’t been allowed to be present in the court room.

As a result, the issue number 7-8 of “ARCHE” has been recognized extremist. Judge hadn’t asked any questions. Lawyer Pavel Sapelka states that the ruling is illegal.

24.02.2009 Journalists fined in Homel

On 24 February Judge Maryna Damnenka of Homel Tsentralny Borough Court sentenced two members of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Zmitser Karmazin and Aleh Ryzhkou to BYR 700,000 each for ‘violating the procedures of conducting street actions.’ The judge denied all the motions to summon witnesses so that the actual circumstances of the rally. On the same day Homel Regional Prosecutor’s Office issued a warning to another BAJ member Tatsiana Bublikava for working with the Poland-based BELSAT independent TV channel.

24.02.2009 Supreme Economic Court reverses decision by first instance court

On 23 February the Supreme Economic Court reversed the verdict by a first instance court obliging the owner of the Borisovskiye novosti independent newspaper to pay over BYR 48,000,000 for ‘illegal business activity’ (part 1 of Article 12.7 of the Administrative Code). The decision is final and the case is terminated. ‘It means that the company has been found not guilty, it will not have to pay the fine and its income will not be confiscated’, said the lawyer Siarhei Zikratski. However, the newspaper has been deprived of its retail license and cannot be distributed freely. Now, after the verdict by the Supreme Economic Court, the Borisovskiye novosti may regain the license. ‘We won’t be able to sell the newspaper until the case is settled’, says Siarhei Zikratski.

23.02.2009 Activists detained for celebrating Mother Language Day

Homel Thsentralny Borough Court sentenced Kastus Zhukouski to 7 days of arrest for participating in a Mother Language Day action in downtown Homel. Vasil Takarenka, Marysia Tulzankova and Ales Viartseika were fined BYR 700,000 each. The teenagers were standing in the center of Homel holding posters with the words ‘Mother Tongue’ and a Russian phrase ‘Banned’ across. Their mouths were covered with green and red ribbons. NB: International Mother Language Day, celebrated annually on February 21, aims to promote the recognition and practice of the world’s mother tongues, particularly minority ones.

20.02.2009 Catholic priest fined

On 20 February Lelchytsy district court fined Catholic priest Vital Myshona BYR 105,000 for failing to follow the rulings by the local geodetic department following the installation of a cross in the town of Lelchytsy. The priest was accused of unauthorized installation of a Catholic cross.

13.02.2009 Zmitser Dashkevich and Mikola Dzemidzenka get arrested for action of protest

On 12 February activists of the Young Front held a protest picket against arrests of leaders of entrepreneurs Uladzimir Asipenka, Mikalai Autukhovich and Yury Liavonau near the pre-trial prison in Valadarski Street in Minsk. They were standing near the jail chanting ‘Freedom to Political Prisoners’. The picket lasted for 20 minutes.

06.02.2009 Only a small part of confiscated property is returned to For Freedom’ movement

According to the ruling of Pershamaiski district court of Minsk only 9 out of the 39 confiscated items were returned to an activist of the For Freedom movement Aliaksei Kavalets.

06.02.2009 Supreme Court upholds punishment of members of democratic candidate’s team

On 28 September 2008, the day before the election, three residents of Svetlahorsk, proxies of a candidate to the Parliament, were detained and fined.

05.02.2009 Brest oblast court reversed verdict for eviction of Zhana Abramava’s family from apartment

On 5 February in Brest the College Board on civil cases of Brest oblast court, presided by Alena Khatsko considered the complaint of the activist of the For Freedom movement Zhana Abramava concerning the eviction of her family from the apartment. The court reversed the verdict of Maskouski district court of Brest for 25 November and returned the case for a second trial.

30.01.2009 Belaruski chas newspaper faces $1,000,000 fine for information workers received

Vorsha meat-preserving factory’s general director demands weekly “Belaruski chas” to disprove article “Hashed beef as a wage”. The newspaper editorial office has made a statement on this occasion. “In the end of January rumours that Vorsha meat-preserving factory gives wages in the form of canned meat. But when our author Liudmila Marshalovich sent the ready article, it has been found out that there were no problems in that: wage in the form of money hasn’t been cancelled, and canned meat was given to those who wanted that, according to an agreement concluded by the enterprise. There were no violations or infringements of workers’ rights. And we published this information like that,” journalists of “Belarusiki chas” write.

28.01.2009 Regional activist lodges claim with Supreme Court

Siarhei Panamarou, activist of the For Freedom movement has filed a claim with the Supreme Court of Belarus against the decision of Kletsk district court – a BYR 750,000 fine for violating the regulations of conducting muss actions. Panamarou had earlier appealed the decision at Minsk regional court. However, the verdict was confirmed that time.

23.01.2009 Human rights activist sentenced for ‘disorderly conduct’

On 22 January Vitsebsk Pershamaiski Borough Court sentenced human rights activist Valery Shchukin to a BYR 70,000 fine for disorderly conduct in December 2008, as he was trying to protect an under-aged Maksim Andreyeu from mental cruelty by a hospital psychiatrist. Maksim was deprived of his right to live with his mother and kept in a mental hospital.

21.01.2009 Activists convicted for phantom action

Minsk Regional Court has affirmed the sentence passed by Kletsk Town Court fixing a penalty of BYR 1,500,000 roubles to Siarhei Panamarou for organizing an unsanctioned mass action. The action, as it turned out, never actually took place. The activist says he is going to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court of Belarus.

16.01.2009 Opposition activist awarded default judgment

On 15 December Kalinkavichy district court executor in a special letter demanded that United Civic Party activist Dzianis Rabianok pay a BYR 1,500,000 fine awarded to him by Elsk district court for ‘violations of electoral legislation’ in absentia.