03.03.2008 Salihorsk: Police Detain Meeting Participants

On 2 March about 300 people gathered in the central square of the town of Salihorsk to take part in a meeting for protection of the social guarantees. The action was violently dispersed by the police with participation of the riot squad that came from Minsk.

29.02.2008 Salihorsk entrepreneurs receive big fines

On February 27th the court of Minsk district and Zaslauye considered administrative charges against three family members of Salihorsk entrepreneur Aliaksandr Tsatsura and against Viktar Kryval.

Judge Siarhei Ahafonski recognized them guilty of violating Article 23.4 of the Administrative Code – “Insubordination to the legal demands of a police officer” and imposed the following fines: Aliaksandr Tsatsura – 50 basic units, Tamara Tsatsura – 30 basic units, Ilya Tsatsura – 30 basic units. Viktar Kryval who is serving a 15-days arrest, was also fined 50 basic units, in his absence.

19.02.2008 Zhaleznichenka’s Mother Appeals against His Expulsion from University

On 5 March the court hearings on the suit of Zmitser Zhaleznichenka’s mother against Homel State University will start. On 18 February the judge of the Tsentralny district court of Homel Zhanna Andreichyk listened to the positions of the sides and decided to start the trial after Zmitser receives an answer from the Ministry of Education, to which he had complained against the illegal expulsion.

19.02.2008 Entrepreneur Viktar Kryval Sentenced to 15 Days of Jail

Viktar Kryval, activist of the campaign For Free Development of Business, was accused of handing-out anti-state leaflets. Uzda court found him guilty and sentenced to 15 days of jail. Judge V.Verdyzh took the opinion that the leaflets which he had distributed continued calls to hold an unauthorized meeting.

19.02.2008 Baranavichy: Entrepreneur Charnavus Fined

On 11 February Mikalai Charnavus participated in the unauthorized meeting of entrepreneurs in Baranavichy. On 18 February the first court sitting against the entrepreneur took place. However, the trial ended only on 19 February, as the day before there weren’t enough witnesses from the police and the ideology department of Baranavichy executive committee. By the way, it was the ideology department, to whom the entrepreneur had applied two weeks ago with the request to authorize the action. The action was banned, but the entrepreneurs held their action.

13.02.2008 Homel: 2 Activists Fined for Leaflets, Uladzimir Katsora Imprisoned for 7 Days

The police detained Andrei Aliashkevich and Uladzimir Shumilin in the center of Homel, while the activists were handing out leaflets to inform the citizens about a public meeting with the leader of the For Freedom! movement Aliaksandr Milinkevich, which was not authorized by the local authorities. Aliashkevich and Shumilin were guarded to the police station, where about 1 000 leaflets were confiscated from them and administrative reports under article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (violation of the order of organizing and holding mass actions) were drawn on them.

13.02.2008 Regions: Persecution of Entrepreneurs Continues

The authorities continue persecuting the entrepreneurs who have participated in the actions of protest against president’s decree #760.

11.02.2008 Human Rights Center 'Viasna' Nominates Zmitser Zhaleznichenka for Student Peace Prize

Human Rights Center Viasna initiated the nomination of the Belarusian student Zmitser Zhaleznichenka for Student Peace Prize.

09.02.2008 Independent Trade Union Helps Worker to Return His Money

The trade union of radio-electronic industry (REI) managed to get the court abolish a disciplinary punishment to its activist, driver of Brestenerhazberazhenne enterprise Mikhail Zychkou, and return to him the wage he had been deprived of as a result. It happened thanks to the insistence and professionalism of the trade-union’s specialists. They had not only to prove the unlawfulness of the administration’s actions, but also fight with the judicial illiteracy of the judge of Maskouski district court of Brest Mrs. Levanchuk.

05.02.2008 Young Front Activist Detained in Salihorsk

On 4 February in Salihorsk the police detained an activist of the underground organization Young Front Hleb Snorkin, who was returning home from a sitting of the local branch of the Young Front. The police searched the activists and found leaflets and hearts which he had prepared for the St. Valentine’s Day.

05.02.2008 Minsk City Court Justifies Arrest of Anatol Liabedzka

The judge of Minsk city court Tatsiana Yermalovich thinks that there are no reasons to abolish the ruling of the judge Volha Husakova towards Anatol Liabedka.

05.02.2008 Court Turns down Complaint against Bans of Peaceful Assemblies

On 1 February the court of Baranavichy and Baranavichy district considered the suit of the lawyer Karney Piatrovich against the ban of a picket by Baranavichy city executive committee. Despite convincing arguments proving that the ban was illegal the court, predictably enough, took the side of the authorities.

05.02.2008 Salihorsk: Young Front Activists Fined again

Recently Salihorsk court has abolished a number of decisions of the local administrative commissions, according to which activists of the underground youth organization Young Front were fined huge sums of money for participation in peaceful protest actions. Their cases were returned to the administrative commission for reconsideration.

01.02.2008 Aliaksandr Vasilyeu Fined

On 1 February the judge of Pinsk city court Tatsiana Svibovich fined the activist of the campaign For Free Development of Business Aliaksandr Vasiliyeu 700 000 rubles for ‘insubordination to the police’ in connection with the events of 21 January. That day Pinsk entrepreneurs staged a spontaneous meeting near Pinsk city executive committee.

01.02.2008 Hrodna Oblast Court Turns down Activist’s Complaint

The resident of Masty Ales Zarembiuk received an answer from Hrodna oblast court. The activist appealed to the court against a huge fine, which was imposed on him for alleged organizing a street meeting of Masty citizens with the head of the For Freedom movement Aliaksandr Milinkevich. Zarembiuk was fined 525 000 rubles (about 244 US dollars).