The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News on the topic: administrative prosecution

16.04.2008 Barys Khamaida fined again

Vitsebsk opposition activists Barys Khamaida received a copy of the verdict stating he had been fined 175,000 roubles for breaking trading rules, namely selling independent newspapers and magazines in the city center. Khamaida failed to attend the hearing of his case due to health problems. He says that in spite of persecution he will go on distributing independent press in Vitsebsk.

14.04.2008 Young Front members detained

A number of Salihorsk activists were detained on April 11 for supporting the teenagers detained during the March 25 and March 2 actions in Salihorsk and Minsk. As a result, Ivan Shyla and Khrystsina Samoilava were fined 1,050,000 roubles each, and Andrus Tychyna was fined 700,000 roubles. The activists say they are going to appeal the verdict.

10.04.2008 Ludmila Atakulava fined 1,225,000

Yesterday youth activist Ludmila Atakulava, detained after the trial of Kasia Salauiova, was fined 1,225,000 roubles for violating the procedure of conducting mass actions.

09.04.2008 Polatsk: Detentions after trial over Katsiaryna Salauyova

8 April in the evening at the town exit of Polatsk the road police stopped the car with the youth activists, members of the Young Front and the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Liudvisia Atakulava, Valery Matskevich, Dzianis Sadouski, Aliaksei Shein and Pavel Sitnik. During the detention the policemen told that the chair of Polatsk town police department had some questions to them.

07.04.2008 Trial for excursion?

23 March nine civil activists from Homel took part in an excursion dedicated to the activist of the government of the Belarusian People’s Republic Paluta Badunova.

07.04.2008 Participant of 25 March action has broken rib

Doctors of Minsk hospital #3 diagnosed Andrei Babitski, activist of the civil campaign European Belarus, with ‘closed displaced fracture of eighth rib’. The youth activist and dozens of other participants of the demonstration on 25 March were beaten up brutally by riot policemen. Emergency brigade, called to the Savetski district police department, refused to help the oppositionist.

04.04.2008 Aliaksei Shcharbakou fined for participation in Freedom Day action

1 April the court of Baranavichy tried the administrative case against Aliaksei Shcharbakou, who was detained on 25 March at the Freedom Day action in Minsk. Shcharbakou is invalid, hard of hearing since childhood.

03.04.2008 10 Days of Jail for Picketing Russian Embassy

2 April youth activists (mainly representatives of the Jeans – For Freedom movement) attempted to hold a picket near the diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation in Minsk. They brought with them a white-red-white flag and a banner No to Russia – Yes to EU. The action was dedicated to the official Day of consolidation of the Russian and the Belarusian people.

01.04.2008 Freedom day brings five days of jail to Barys Khamaida

The judge of Chyhunachny district court of Vitsebsk Raman Dehoda sentenced well-known political and human rights activist Barys Khamaida for alleged violation of article 23.34, part 3 of the Administrative Code.

28.03.2008 International human rights organizations condemn the arrests and brutal attacks by riot police of peaceful demonstrators in Minsk

Statement: The Human Rights House Foundation, the Rafto Foundation, Norwegian PEN, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and The Norwegian Union of Journalist condemn the arrests and brutal attacks by riot police of peaceful demonstrators in Minsk.

28.03.2008 Trial over human rights defender Paval Levinau postponed to April 3rd

Pershamaiski court of Vitebsk began the trial over human rights defender Paval Levinau. Levinau was detained on March 27th when he was performing his work of a human rights defender. Despite the bad health condition of Paval Levinau, who had to call for ambulance yesterday, judge Alena Zhuk decided to again call for a doctor, and postpone the trial to April 3rd.

28.03.2008 Young Front member Andrus Tsianiuta goes on hunger strike in jail

Today one of the leaders of Belarusian Christian Democratic movement Paval Seviarynets received a phone call (!) from Andrus Tsianiuta, head of Homel Young Front. Tsianiuta was calling from jail, and said he continued his hunger strike protesting against illegal detention.

27.03.2008 On March 25th Belarusian authorities demonstrated their attitude to human rights

Viasna's statement about the events on March 25th

26.03.2008 Trials on March 26th end

Savetski, Zavadski, Maskouski, and Partyzanski courts of Minsk finished trials over participants of the celebration of peaceful rally detained on March 25th. The courts considered 75 administrative cases, 26 of which ended with arrests. The judges gave from 5 to 15 days of jail to the action participants. Two trials are postponed for March 27th (the cases against journalist Andrei Liankevich and Zmitser Yasevich). Two of the detained – Yaraslau Hryshchenia and Yuras Karetnikau – are receiving medical treatment. In general, about 20 people received injuries.