The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for December 2007

13.12.2007 Two Victims of Violent Dispersal of Action at Kastrychintskaya Square Are in Hospital

A Young Front leader Zmitser Khvedaruk is still in clinical hospital #9 in Minsk. During the preliminary examinations the doctor diagnosed brain concussion. However, Khvedaruk can also have other injuries. During the yesterday’s action of protest against Vladimir Putin’s visit to Belarus (possibly aimed at signing the act of the union state, thus depriving Belarus of sovereignty), the police were tearing a white-red-white flag out from Khvedaruk’s hands. The 19-year-old youngster held the flag with his both hands, while fascists in the uniform were beating him into unconsciousness. Then they stamped on him.

12.12.2007 Brutal Beatings at Action against Putin’s Visit to Belarus

At 6 p.m. on 12 December members of oppositional political parties, democratic leaders and youth started coming to Kastrychnitskaya Square of Minsk to protest against the visit of Vladimir Putin to Minsk. There are insistent rumors that during the visit Putin and Lukashenka will sign an act of the union state, thus incorporating Belarus into Russia. This action was dedicated to protection of the remnants of the state sovereignty of Belarus.

12.12.2007 Trials over Makayeu and Siarheyenka Postponed

On 12 December Leninski district court of Minsk postponed the administrative trials over the entrepreneur Aliaksandr Makayeu and the student Mikalai Siarheyenka who were charged with petty hooliganism which they had allegedly committed on 6 December.

12.12.2007 Brest: Unknown Persons again Damage Automobile of Human Rights Activist Vialichkin

The citizen of Brest Uladzimir Vialichkin parks his Nissan near the multistoried building where he lives. All paid garages and car parks are far away. A police car has always stood near the house, that’s why the human rights activist thought that there was no need to be afraid for his car.

12.12.2007 Pickets in Salihorsk

On10 December in Salihorsk activists of the 'Young Front' and the 'For Freedom' movement organized a picket dedicated to the International Human Rights Day.

12.12.2007 Baranavichy: Authorities Pressurize Picket Applicants

Applicants for holding pickets against repeal of social benefits in Baranavichy were reached on the phone by local officials and offered to give up the idea of holding the actions.

12.12.2007 Homel: Police again Detain Entrepreneur Kaminskaya

The entrepreneur Iryna Kaminskaya was detained in Homel. On the way to the court the woman felt bad.

12.12.2007 Unlawful Search in Office of Congress of Democratic Trade Unions

The Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BCDTU) lodged a legal application to Ihar Ukrainets, prosecutor of Leninski district of Minsk, in connection with unlawful actions in the office of trade union.

12.12.2007 Internet Can’t Be Silenced

The House of Representatives has adopted a draft law 'On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information' in the first reading.

12.12.2007 White-red-white Flags and Banner Hung out in Minsk

On 11 December a large white-red-white flag was hung out on the corner of Nezalezhnastsi Avenue and Kazlou Street in Minsk (tube station 'Ploshcha Peramohi').

12.12.2007 Viktar Ivashkevich Sentenced to 15 Days of Jail

Viktar Ivashkevich, deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front, was sentenced to 15 days of arrest by Tsentralny district court of Minsk.

11.12.2007 Prisoner Nikolay Kostyshev Announces REPEATED Hunger-strike in Minsk Jail #1

According to the relatives of the citizen of Russian Federation, prisoner Nikolay Kostyshev, on 25 October 2007 he had to announce a REPEATED hunger-strike, because for two days already he cannot get justified, despite the numerous violations of the Belarusian laws during the investigation and his innocence. Though Kostyshev announced a hunger-strike before and sent a number of addresses to the prosecutor’s office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he received no answers.

11.12.2007 Politicial Prisoner Finkevich to Be Tried on 20 December

According to the information of Mahiliou human rights activist Barys Bukhel, the consideration of the criminal case against Artur Finkevich was appointed on 20 December. The trial will start at 10.30 a.m. The court has directed to Mahiliou state university a request to provide an interpreter into Belarusian.

11.12.2007 Baranavichy: Police Confiscate Leaflets

In the evening the 'Young Front' activists from Baranavichy Vadzim Auramenka, Pavel Kryvanosau and Vadzim Lohish were detained while handing out leaflets. The police took them to the police station and confiscated the leaflets.

11.12.2007 Entrepreneurs Sentenced to 7-15 Days of Jail

Several minutes before the trial a leader of entrepreneurs stated to Radio 'Racyja': ‘If the court sentences entrepreneurs to administrative arrest, the negotiations with the authorities which were appointed on 19 December, will not take place’.