The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for September 2007

10.09.2007 Dzianis Sadouski Sentenced to 5 Days of Jail

On 10 September in Orsha the judge Tatsiana Rybakova sentenced a member of the organizing committee for the establishment of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Dzianis Sadouski to 5 days of jail under article 17.1 of the Administrative Code (petty hooliganism, standard accusation against opposition activists). Dzianis was detained on 8 September near Orsha during the celebration of an anniversary of the Orsha battle.

10.09.2007 Minsk: Meeting of Entrepreneurs in Banhalor Square

At 12 a.m. on 10 September several hundred entrepreneurs gathered for an authorized meeting in Banhalor Square of Minsk. The application for the authorization of the action had been filed by 12 activists of the Perspective entrepreneurs’ association including the heads of entrepreneurs’ councils from Minsk, Homel, Vitsebsk and other towns and cities.

10.09.2007 Baranavichy: Police Detain Journalists and Youth Activists during Trial over Yaraslau Hryshchenia

On 10 September in Baranavichy the youth activist Yaraslau Hryshchenia stood a trial for participation in unregistered organization (article 193.1 of the Criminal Code). Many youth activists came to the court to support him. A number of independent journalists elucidated the action of support. By 10.30 a.m. the police detained more than 20 participants of the action.

10.09.2007 Action of Support to Youth Activists of Belarus Held at the UN Entrance

On 8 September the Belarusian Youth Movement of America held an action of support to the activists of an unregistered youth organization Young Front Nasta Azarka, Yaraslau Hryshchenia and Ivan Shyla.

10.09.2007 Orsha: Police Detain People for Celebrating the Day of Belarusian Military Glory

About 100 opposition activists were detained on 8 September, the Day of Belarusian Military Glory in Orsha and Mahiliou. Only in the Krapivenskaya field were the bards’ fest was to be held over 40 people were detained. The group of 20 public activists was detained in Mahiliou. In Orsha the people were taken off trains and busses and after several hours’ detainment forced to return to their places. But 9 September another 20 people were detained in the Krapivenskaya field. Among the detainees there were many well-known people: bard Andrei Melnikau, artist Ales Pushkin, youth leaders Zmitser Khvedaruk, Andrei Sharenda, activists Ivan and Illia Shyla.

07.09.2007 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in July-August 2007

During the last two summer months the Belarusian authorities continued persecuting democratic activists: policemen groundlessly detained people without composing detention reports or accused them in administrative violations. Despite the summer season the Belarusian opposition continued active work and preparation to autumn actions including the European March appointed on 14 October and the Social March. Democratic activists distributed agitation materials with the aim to inform citizens about the marches. Besides, during this period the democratic circles celebrated an important date of the Belarusian history, 27 July. This day in 1990 the deputies of the Belarusian Parliament of the 12th Convocation adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty.

07.09.2007 Siarhei Salash Warned by Prosecutor’s Office

An activist of a public campaign For Clean Barysau Siarhei Salash has received an official warning from Barysau district prosecutor’s office.

07.09.2007 Trade Union Activist Siarhei Antusevich Detained on the Border again

Siarhei Antusevich, the chair of the primary unit of the Belarusian independent trade union at the open company Hrodna Azot (Hrodna Nitrogen) has been again thoroughly searched by the Belarusian customs officers on the Polish border.

07.09.2007 Hrodna: Maksim Hubarevich Taken to Local KGB Office

In the morning on 7 September KGB workers visited the public and political activist Maksim Hubarevich at work. They handed to him a summons to come to the KGB office for giving explanations. There wasn’t specified which explanations he was to give and why, but they did not explain anything to him.

07.09.2007 Babruisk: Police Detain Youth Activists

At about 9 p.m. on 6 September in Babruisk the police detained four youth activists including Mikita Bytsenka and Siarhei Latsinski. That day they helped a local human rights activist Ihar Khodzka to repair his house.

06.09.2007 Women’s Party ‘Nadzeya’ Faces Liquidation

A preliminary meeting of the sides of the trial at the Supreme Court of Belarus will take place on 12 September.

06.09.2007 Homel: Police Detain Youth Activist Andrei Tsianiuta

In Homel the police detained the youth activist Andrei Tsianiuta. According to the duty policeman of Homel regional transport police department Ruslan Maltsau, Tsianiuta looked like a suspect in a raping that was committed on 23 August in Minsk or in the Aseyeuka settlement in Minsk district. 40 minutes after the detention the policemen apologized to Tsianiuta and released him. The youngster missed his train, but the policemen took his ticket to the booking office and returned to him the money for it.

06.09.2007 Mahiliou: Police Detain Distributors of Youth Bulletin

At about 8 p.m. on 5 September in Leninskaya Street in Mahiliou the police detained for handing out Moladzevy biuleten UFF-BY.org (Youth Bulletin) three under aged persons: Ales Anisimau, Artsiom Davydau and Kastus Yauseyeu. 173 copies of the edition were confiscated from them.

06.09.2007 Minsk: Unidentified Person Detained Near BPF Office

Several hours ago an unidentified old man was detained by the police near the Minsk office of the Belarusian People’s Front Party in Masherau Avenue, 8. The policemen detained him and lead to the Academy of the Internal Affairs that is situated near the BPF office. HRC Viasna learned that before the detention the man visited the BPF office and left it with a copy of Right to Freedom bulletin.

06.09.2007 Rahachou: Authorities Hinder Registration of Center for Support of Entrepreneurs

As said by an initiator of the establishment of the Center for Support of Entrepreneurs Ala Hurevich, for registration of the center they need the authorities to exclude their house from the fund of residential buildings. However, Rahachou district executive committee directed the woman to Homel regional committee. Homel committee, in its turn, sent her to the department of housing economy. The department again returned her to Rahachou district executive committee.