The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

The trial of Filip Kirdun, charged with the use of obscene language towards police officers, continued today at the Frunzenski District Court of Minsk. Judge Liudmila Lapo agreed to question policemen Aliaksandr Birchanka and Siarhei Dounar, who had taken fingerprints from the defendant. They stated that he had called them “Lukashenka’s lackeys”, and police officer Sviatlana Kunitskaya, who is in charge of the procedure of dactylography in the Frunzenski District Police Department of Minsk, stated that Filip’s parents had paid a visit to the police department on 14 November and threatened to her.

On 15 October the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) produced a special report "On the conformity with the universal human rights standards of Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code on the rights of non-registered associations of the Republic of Belarus”. The uniqueness of this instrument lies in the fact that it was the first time when this authoritative legal commission considered only one article in a country’s law.

Members of Minsk “New Life” church are set not to pay about 266 million BR fine.

They are also ready to defend their building and pastor Vyachaslau Hancharnka, stated the lawyer of the church Syarhei Lukanin in an interview to BelaPAN.

On 29 July 2010 the Kobryn District Court of the Brest region found reverend Viktar Novikau, Pastor of the Church of Evangelic Faith Christians guilty of violating Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences and fined 2,100,000 rubles (700,000 rubles for three masses, served on 31 May, 7 and 14 June).

Hrodna regional court reversed the verdict by Navahradak court against Uladzimir Kachahur, pastor of the ‘New Generation’ church, and ruled to initiate retrial of the case by a new judge, the press-service of the Belarusian Christian Democracy reports.

On 15 June the Minsk Region Court considered the cassation appeal of the state accuser, L.Daubniuk, against the acquittal of Ivan Mikhailau by the Minsk District Court, and left the verdict of the lower court standing, thus taking the side of the defendant.

This information was provided to BelaPAN by the church lawyer, Siarhei Lukanin. According to him, this accusation is stated in the act of examination of the territory of the church that was passed to the believers on 9 June. The document is signed by 10 officials and includes the road that leads to the temple, the car parking and the lawn behind the church.

The College board of the Minsk oblast court has studied the cassation appeal of Ivan Mikhailau, imprisoned for alleged draft evasion.

In this letter Viachaslau Hancharenka, pastor of the Protestant Church New Life, calls on the head of the state to establish a commissions on resolution of the conflict between the church and the Minsk authorities.