11.04.2011 Viasna condemns criminal prosecution of Andrzej Poczobut
On 28 March 2011, it was reported that Hronda Regional Prosecutor’s Office initiated criminal proceedings against Andrzej Poczobut, reporter of the Polish Gazeta Wyborcza weekly and leader of the opposition Union of Poles. The journalist faces charges under Par. 1 Art. 368 of the Criminal Code (“insult of the President of the Republic of Belarus”) for eight publications in Gazeta Wyborcza, one article on www.belaruspartizan.org and a post in his personal blog www.poczobut.livejournal.com.
04.04.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (28 March – 3 April)
In the beginning of the week, several people detained during the street actions of 25 March, Freedom Day, were punished with administrative arrest: Mikola Dzemidzenka, Iryna Hubskaya, Viktar Ivashekvich, Zmitser Salauyou and journalist Uladzimir Laptsevich. The criminal persecution in connection with the protest rally of 19 December 2010 continued as well. One of its participants, 20-year-old Mikita Likhavid was sentenced to 3.5 years of medium-security colony.
30.03.2011 Analytical review of the trial of Mikita Likhavid
The Human Rights Center “Viasna” believes that: 1. The verdict pronounced by Minsk Partyzanski District Court, sentencing Mikita Likhavid to 3.5 years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony, is illegal and politically motivated. 2. Mikita Likhavid should be considered a prisoner of conscience and therefore the Human Rights Center “Viasna” demands his acquittal and immediate release.
28.03.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (March 21-27)
On 22 March, two Minsk courts opened the hearings on politically motivated criminal cases: Young Front leaders Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobau faced charged for malicious hooliganism and were eventually convicted (Dashkevich was sentenced to 2 years and Lobau – to 4 years in a high-security penal colony). The trial of youth opposition activist Mikita Likhavid accused of participation in the 19 December 2010 mass riot was postponed till 29 March. An unprecedented number of police employees (31) act as victims in the case. The historic 25 March Freedom Day anniversary was marked by harsh repressions against opposition and independent media. Meanwhile, the authorities banned all opposition rallies across the country, preventing local activists from going to Minsk. Two journalists were sentenced to administrative arrests – Aliaksandr Lashmankin (editor of the Russian Svoboda news agency) and BelaPAN Mahiliou reporter Ales Asiptsou. Another journalist Uladzimir Laptsevich is currently in custody awaiting trial on similar charges.
24.03.2011 Concise analytical review of the trial of Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobau: Concluding Part
On 23 March, Minsk Maskouski District Court continued hearing the malicious hooliganism case of Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobau. The court session was opened by the examination of witness Mrs. Sviatlana Harbachova, employee of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
23.03.2011 Concise analytical review of the trial of Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobau: Day 1
On 22 March 2011, Minsk Maskouski District Court hosted the trial of the Young Front leader Zmitser Dashkevich and the organization’s Minsk city office head Eduard Lobau. The activists face charged of malicious hooliganism (Par. 3 Art. 339 of the Criminal Code), namely an attack on two persons, allegedly committed on 18 December 2010. They are also accused of using a crow-bar during the attack.
23.03.2011 “Impregnable” Prosecutor Vasilevich
“Activities on behalf of a political party, public association, religious organization or foundation, that has failed to undergo a state registration procedure, violate the legislation of the Republic of Belarus”, repeatedly state official replies by Prosecutor General to Viasna’s leader Ales Bialiatski.
21.03.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (March 14-20)
Politically motivated prosecutions have continued to gather pace: charges concerning the 19 December events were brought against another former presidential candidate Dzmitry Us, charges against another former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich were changed. Within the framework of the criminal case, law enforcement agencies continued carrying out interrogations and searches. Ales Mikhalevich left Belarus in fear of another arrest, following his release on recognizance. Human rights defenders encountered new harassment facts. Freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly were still considerably restricted. More detentions were reported. The existence of a “black list” was reported by the media: the authorities banned a number of concerts by Belarusian rock bands. Six artworks to be exhibited at the “Pahonia” art exhibition were rejected due to censorship.
18.03.2011 Ales Bialiatski visiting Tunisia as international expert in transition to democracy conference
On 17-19 March the Tunisia capital hosted an international conference “Transition to Democracy in Tunisia”, visited by representatives of the country’s civil society, trade unions and mass media, as well as a number of international experts, including Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights Ales Bialiatski.
16.03.2011 Valiantsin Stefanovich seeks recovery of property seized during KGB search
Human rights defenders Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich and Uladzimir Labkovich have received official replies to their earlier complaints concerning the property seized by the KGB during a search at Mr. Bialiatski’s apartment back on 20 December.
16.03.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (7-13 March)
On 9 March the assistant to the Representative of the International Observation Mission of the Committee on International Control over the Situation with Human Rights in Belarus, citizen of the Ukraine Maxim Kitsyuk was denied entry to the territory of the Republic of Belarus while crossing the border by train Kyiv - Minsk.
11.03.2011 Analytical review of the trial of Dzmitry Miadzvedz: the last day
The trial of entrepreneur Dzmitry Miadzvedz continues in the Maskouski District Court of Minsk, with participation of Judge Alena Rudnitskaya, lawyer Siarhei Lepesh and representative of the state accusation Mr. Mazovka.
09.03.2011 Expulsion of counsel Pavel Sapelka from the Minsk City Bar Association: opinions of human rights defenders
'It is an unprecedented case of pressurization of counsels. I think that reprisals are used against independent lawyers on any grounds. Actually, an end is put to the independent advocacy by this. The case of Pavel Sapelka is a clear signal to all other counsels who take part in the case concerning the events of 19 December and other politically motivated cases, and in any cases in general. It is a warning to all counsels of the country. All trials concerning the events of 19 December become a complete fiction since then. They turn into a tragic show organized by the authorities to lynch their opponents.
04.03.2011 Pavel Sapelka is a counsel no more. Three political prisoners have been deprived of defense.
The order of the Ministry of Justice concerning lawyer Pavel Sapelka was considered at a sitting of the Minsk City Bar on 3 March.
02.03.2011 Sentences given to Atroshchankau, Malchanau and Novik
The Frunzenski District Court of Minsk continues trying the case of the participants of the 19 December protest action in Minsk, Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, Aliaksandr Malchanau and Dzmitry Novik.
