The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 2 Oct 2007

02.10.2007 Police Spoil Ivashkevich’s Birthday

On 2 October in El-Pomidoro restaurant in Minsk political activists celebrated the 48th birthday of the deputy chair of the Belarusian People’s Front Viktar Ivashkevich.

02.10.2007 Brest: Picket against Repeal of Social Benefits Gathers More Than 200 Participants

On 30 September, 3 to 5 p.m. at Locomotive stadium in Brest a picket against the repeal of social benefits was held. Only one picket out of the planned 39 was authorized by the executive committee. The action was attended by about 200 local citizens and 60 activists of the United Civil Party, Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada, Belarusian People’s Front, the Party of Communists of Belarus and the trade union of radio electronic industry.

02.10.2007 Riot Police Try to Burst into Anatol Liabedzka’s Apartment

On 30 September riot policemen in mufti tried to burst into Anatol Liabedzka’s apartment. However, the chair of the United Civil Party recognized one of them and did not open the door. On 29 September they also paid a visit to the house, but the politician was absent.

02.10.2007 Riot Police Watch and Hinder Social Pickets

On 30 September in Minsk the activists of the Party of Communists of Belarus Valery Ukhnaliou, Dzmitry Yanenka and a journalist Henadz Sharypkin were detained while handing out the issue of the Tovarishch newspaper that was dedicated to the Social March (appointed on 4 November). The detainees were taken to Savetski district police department of Minsk, but no reports were drawn.

02.10.2007 Supreme Court Protracts Time

The human rights activists Ales Bialiatski, Uladzimir Labkovich and Valiantsin Stefanovich received letters from the Supreme Court, signed by judge S.Yakhnavets. There it was stated that on 26 September the appeal against the refusal of the Ministry of Justice to register the public association Human Rights Center Viasna was considered, but no decision was taken as no documents confirming the powers of the applicants were attached. That’s why the applicants were to correct the situation till 5 October.

02.10.2007 Salihorsk: Police Detain Andrei Tychyna

On 30 September the Young Front activists from Salihorsk held a picket in support of political prisoners. Earlier applications for several pickets were considered by Salihorsk city executive committee. The committee banned the pickets and ordered the police to watch the activists.

02.10.2007 Hrodna: Katsiaryna Bychak Can Be Expelled from University

Katsiaryna was an activist of the campaign for protection of the historical heritage of Hrodna. For family reasons she had to miss nine days of classes at the juridical faculty of Hrodna State University. Now the university administration tries to use this fact.

02.10.2007 Sentence to Andrei Klimau Remains Unchanged

On 2 November Minsk city court considered the cassation complaint against the verdict of Tsentralny district court of Minsk according to which the politician Andrei Klimau was sentenced to two years of high security prison for an internet article.

02.10.2007 Hrodna: Yury Istomin Arrested, Andrei Yanushkevich – Fined

The police continue haunting public and political activists in Hrodna. On 1 October Leninski and Kastrychnitski courts of Hrodna tried the abovementioned activists of the United Party.

02.10.2007 Homel Entrepreneurs Apply for Meeting Permit again

The previous application was filed on 9 September. However, according to an activist of a republican NGO Perspective Aliaksandr Rubchenia, no answer was received from the authorities.

02.10.2007 Yaraslau Hryshchenia Not Let abroad

On 28 September Baranavichy KGB office denied an activist of the Young Front Yaraslau Hryshchenia a permissive seal for foreign travels. Hryshchenia associates this incident with his intention to take part in the public hearings at PACE on 29 September.

02.10.2007 Svetlahorsk Activists Appeal Police and KGB Actions

On 30 September the police detained Sviatlana Mikhalchanka and Volha Yankouskaya. In the evening the police also searched their apartments. The reason for these actions was that the detainees were participants of actions against the upcoming repeal of social benefits.

02.10.2007 Salihorsk Court Fines Aliaksandr Tsatsura

On 1 October Salihorsk court considered an administrative case against a member of the organizing committee of the public association For Free Development of Businessmen and a member of the United Civil Party Aliaksandr Tsatsura. The activist was accused of violating the order of organization of mass action (article 23.34 of the Administrative Code) for sticking to lamp-posts ads about the social actions that were planned for 30 September.