The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 11 Oct 2007

11.10.2007 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in September 2007

In September the democratic opposition of Belarus was preparing to the autumn actions, the European and the Social marches, to demand from the authorities the realization of the social guarantees and familiarize the population with the EU proposals to Belarus and the conditions in which they could come into effect. On 30 September the United democratic forces intended to hold mass pickets all over Belarus. Official applications for authorization of these actions were filed in more than 60 towns and cities of Belarus. One day Salihorsk district executive committee received about a hundred of picket applications, half of which were aimed at protesting against the present social policy, the liquidation of social benefits and guarantees and others – at collection of signatures under the demand to release political prisoners.

11.10.2007 Aliaksandr Atroshchankau Sentenced to 10 Days of Jail

In the evening of 9 October the police allegedly received information about smell of putrefaction from the apartment that was rented by Aliaksandr Atroshchankau. ?We came there, but found no body. There was already an investigative group working in the flat. Then we drove Atroshchankau to the district police department for identification, and he insulted us with four-letter words,’ testified at the trial a policeman Zmitser Kurylchuk.

11.10.2007 Smarhon: Police Siege Activist’s House All Night Long

In the morning of 11 October a public activist Ales Dzerhachou phoned and said that a police car kept duty near his house all night. From time to time the police went out and walked near his windows with pocket flashlights. At 8 a.m. the car changed. The police continue the siege.

11.10.2007 Women’s Party 'Nadzeya' Liquidated

The Supreme Court of Belarus satisfied the suit of the Ministry of Justice on liquidation of the Women’s Party Nadzeya. The official reason is that the party had committed a number of law violations.

11.10.2007 New Detentions in Minsk

On 10 October the youth activists Mikita Sasim and Pavel Yukhnevich were detained in Minsk and taken to Frunzenski district police department. Most probably, it is another preventive detention on the eve of the European march.

11.10.2007 Andrei Klimau Sent to High Security Prison in Mazyr

A political prisoner Andrei Klimau has been sent to the high security prison in Mazyr. Since 10 October till lately he has been kept in an investigative isolator in Minsk.

11.10.2007 Czech Deputy Prime Minister: ?Even solving important energy problems we should not forget human rights’

?Even solving important energy problems we should not forget the human rights’, - Alexandr Vondra, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs of the Czech Republic declared, speaking on the international conference ?Responsible Energy for Responsible Partners’ in Vilnius 11 October.

11.10.2007 Brest: Trials for Participation in Presentation of Seviarynets’ Book Continue

On 10 October Maskouski district court of Brest fined Anatol Yarmak 620 000 Belarusian rubles (about 288 US dollars). On 19 August Yarmak had been detained at the presentation of Pavel Seviarynets’ book. The trial of Yarmak was postponed several times because of the absence of the accusation witnesses. Finally a witness came to the court, but it was not the witness whose explanations had been attached to the case in the beginning.

11.10.2007 Mazyr: Pavel Nazdra Detained

In the evening of 10 October in Mazyr the police detained a coordinator of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Pavel Nazdra.

11.10.2007 Hrodna Suffers from Virus of Dirty Swearing

On 10 October in Hrodna the public and political activists Yan Bohdan, Yury Istomin, Viktar Sazonau and Zmitser Slutski were arrested for ?dirty swearing’. On 10 October the chair of the Union of Poles in Belarus Anzhalika Borys, followed their fate. She also became a victim of ?dirty swearing’.

11.10.2007 Brest: Detentions for Information about European March

According to a youth activist Yuliya Pasheda, in the evening of 10 October the police detained the youth activists Inha Abramava and Yury Bakur who allegedly posted stickers with invitations to the European march that will take place on 14 October in Minsk.

11.10.2007 Vitsebsk: Entrepreneurs again Ask to Permit Meeting of Protest

The entrepreneurs of Vitsebsk again ask the authorities to authorize their meeting in the place that had been specified for such actions, 30-hoddzia VLKSM Park, 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. on 29 October. About 500 individual entrepreneurs and their employees intend to take part in the action.

11.10.2007 Homel: Vasil Paliakou Sentenced to 7 Days of Jail

On 10 October the judge of Chyhunachny district court of Homel Yaraslau Paremski sentenced the deputy chair of Homel oblast office of the United Civil Party Vasil Paliakou to 7 days of jail.

11.10.2007 Yelsk: Police Detain Chernobyl Liquidator Vasil Siliverst

The detention was conducted by the local police inspector, police captain Uladzimi Serhiyenka, the sergean-major Siarhei Chyrun and two more policemen who did not introduce themselves.

11.10.2007 Detention of ?For Freedom’s’ Activist Parsiukevich: New Details

The activist of For Freedom movement Siarhei Parsiukevich was detained in Vitsebsk. At the moment of detention he scotch-taped his mouth mutely, so that the police could not accuse him of ?swearing in public’.