Vileika human rights defender Uladzimir Maliarchuk has received a negative reply to his complaint of police-related violence and poor detention conditions in local detention center, where he had to spend 5 days for involvement in a “silent protest”.
On 19 September, three pro-dem activists from Vileika, Minsk region Uladzimir Maliarchuk, Aliaksei Siudak and Ales Narkevich were summonsed to local police department and charged with violating the Law on Mass Actions during the installation of memorial crosses on the execution spot of anti-Soviet combatant Lapitski outside Vileika. ‘Since it is politically-motivated case, this is sure to be a damning verdict,’ says Aliaksei Siudak, ‘I don’t know how they are going to prove that our action was an unauthorized meeting. We neither demand nor assert anything. Nor did we consider any social or political issues. The people simply installed several crosses, prayed and laid flowers.’
Vileika District Court has turned down a complaint by a local UCPB activist Uladzimir Maliarchuk against the restrictions of meeting and picket locations. In her verdict, Judge Alena Artsimovich says that ‘decisions concerning locations of mass actions, as well as restricted locations, are within the jurisdiction of local executive and regulatory authorities.’ According to Mr.Maliarchuk, Vileika town authorities have assigned two locations for holding pickets and meetings, both situated on the town outskirts. In his complaint, he said that locations assignment itself ‘is an illegal restriction of citizens’ rights and freedoms.’ The activists demanded to lift any restrictions, since they ‘do not meet Constitutional and international standards.’
The fact that the election in Vileika district is uncontested, with one official candidate running, leads to negative consequences for the voting process and the turn-out. Observers report, many people, when they see only one name in their ballot papers, do not even go inside the polling booths. They simply throw the ballot papers out, often tearing them apart in a pointed manner. There is only one candidate running in Vileika district # 61 which includes Vileika and Miadzel rayons. This is the pro-governmental candidate I. A. Spilchanka, head physician of Vileika hospital. Other contenders were pressed out of the race on the previous stages of the campaign, including head of Minsk regional BPF organization, Miadzel resident Dzmitry Vinahradau.
On July 26th head of the regional BPF branch Zmitser Vinahradau filed a complaint to CEC about the decision of Vileika district election commission # 64. On July 24th the commission denied registration to his initiative group. The reason for denial was a statement from one of his team members that he had been included in the team against his will. According to head of Vinahradau’s initiative group the statement was written under pressure of the local “vertical”.
On July 24th, at 2.30 p.m. a session of Vileika district election commission # 64 took place. The commission was to consider 4 applications for registration of initiative groups of the following candidates: Spilnichenka, Anikeyenka, Australenka, and Vinahradau. Deputy head of the commission brought two statements to the session. One statement came from Mr. Australenka, who decided to drop out of the race. The second paper brought by Shykalina was a statement from Mr. Adamovich from Vyhlavichy village, member of Zmitser Vinahradau’s initiative group.
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