The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for October 2007

05.10.2007 Yury Istomin Claims Justice

On 5 October, after five days of arrest, the chair of Hrodna oblast office of the United Civil Party Yury Istomin was released from jail. He was sentenced to the prison term by the judge of Kastrychnitski district court of Hrodna Zinaida Bartsevich on charges of petty hooliganism (article 17.1 of the Administrative Code).

05.10.2007 Tovarishch Editor Appeals against Police Raid

The chief editor of the Tovarishch, newspaper of the oppositional Party of Communists of Belarus (PCB), has lodged a complaint with the Prosecutor General’s Office and Leninski district prosecutor’s office in Minsk in connection with the last month’s police raid on the newspaper’s office.

05.10.2007 Supreme Economic Court Turns down BHC Suit

The Supreme Economic Court rejected a complaint of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee against the Soviet of Ministers and the Ministry of Finances. The Soviet of Ministers’ spokesman didn’t appear on the processing of the complaint, RFE/RL reported.

05.10.2007 Milinkevich Passes His Award to Seviarynets

Former candidate for presidency Aliaksandr Milinkevich has surrendered his Hanno R. Ellenbogen Citizenship Award in favor of young opposition leader Pavel Seviarynets.

04.10.2007 About 30 000 Entrepreneurs on Strike

On 2 October an action of protest took place all over Belarus. It was supported by entrepreneurs of Slutsk, Svetlahorsk, Baranavichy, Rechytsa, Slonim, Pinsk, Babruisk, Vitsebsk, Pruzhany, Uzda and Barysau. The people came to their working places, but did not work. A distinct feature of the action was support from the side of entrepreneurs of large exhibition centers of Minsk.

04.10.2007 Nasta Azarka Fined again

On 3 October Niasvizh district court fined an activist of the democratic youth opposition Anastasiya Azarka 961 000 Belarusian rubles (about 447 US dollars) for alleged hooliganism.

04.10.2007 System Failure of Viasna’s Site Is Being Liquidated

Since the afternoon of 3 October till the afternoon of 4 October the website of the Human Rights Center Viasna has been blocked for technical reasons. At present it is being restored, that’s why we beg your pardon for possible errors on its pages.

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.