The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

Another ban on holding two pickets on May Day was received by Orsha activists of the United Leftist Party “Fair World”.

There were no procedural violations during the trial of Anatol Liabedzka, Siarhei Kaliakin and Aliaksandr Atroshchankau in late March, says an official reply from the Court’s Chairwoman Mrs. Karetnikava, received by Mikalai Dziamidau, leader of the Fair World’s Orsha office.

Orsha court has found human rights defender Valery Shchukin guilty of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and fined him BYR 1,190,000.

Human rights defender Valery Shchukin was detained by Orsha police in the court building where three key opposition leaders stood trial yesterday.

Orsha town executive authorities have banned another picket applied for by local activists of the United Leftist Party “Fair World”.

Several days ago the head of the Orsha District Police Bureau Leanid Mikhailau gave an interview to the state-owned "Arshanskaya Hazeta", dated to the Police Day. He enumerated the achievements of the local police, including the struggle against dipsomania, and told how such struggle was conducted.

On 22 February, Orsha road police detained four members of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, as they were going to Vitsebsk to attend the trial of local pro-democratic activist Siarhei Kavalenka.

Orsha town executive committee keeps ignoring the mass events legislation, say local activists of the Fair World United Leftist Party, whose applications to hold four pickets on 18 February were ignored by the authorities.