The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 15 Jan 2008

15.01.2008 More Than 50% of Individual Entrepreneurs Have Taken Part in 2-week Strike

‘About 50-60% of Belarusian entrepreneurs supported the strike. In Minsk only about 40% worked,’ said the leader of the campaign For Free Development of Business Viktar Harbachou.

15.01.2008 Brest Police Turn down Complaints against Bad Incarceration Conditions

The administration of Leninski district police department of Brest did not acknowledge the facts that were enumerated in the complaint of the activist of For Freedom movement Inha Abramava against the improper conditions of incarceration in the temporary isolation ward.

15.01.2008 Entrepreneur Ales Taustyka Sentenced to 15 Days of Jail

On 15 January the police detained the activist of For Freedom movement, entrepreneur Ales Taustyka near his house. Then he was guarded to Tsentralny district court of Minsk and sentenced to 15 days of jail for active participation in the protest action of entrepreneurs on 10 December.

15.01.2008 Fired Not to Be Paid

The activist of the For Freedom movement, lawyer of the Kamunalnik enterprise Tatsiana Sadouskaya has been fired.

15.01.2008 Polatsk: Court Fines Katsiaryna Salauyova

The Young Front activist from Polatsk Katsiaryna Salauyova was fined 1 050 000 rubles (about 488 US dollars) for having made political graffiti on the walls of Polatsk city executive committee two months ago. The trial was led by the judge Abramava, Salauyova was defended by the lawyer Aliaksandr Haliyeu.

15.01.2008 Oppositional Parties Answer to Justice Ministry

In the press-release of the Ministry of Justice of 12 January 2008 it was stated that during the unauthorized meeting of entrepreneurs the Belarusian legislation on mass actions was grossly violated. The participation of the leaders of the United Civil Party, the BPF Party and the Party of Communists Belarusian was mentioned as well. The Ministry demanded from the parties to answer whether they empowered their leaders to take part in the action and express their public position concerning this in the case they did not.

15.01.2008 Security Council Approves Construction of Nuclear Power Plant

The Security Council of Belarus took a final decision on construction a nuclear power plant in the country.

15.01.2008 Patients of Tuberculosis Hospital Stop Hunger-strike

Patients of the Republican Tuberculosis Hospital in Navayelnia (Dziatlava district, Hrodna oblast) have stopped the hunger strike, but continue seeking other ways to express their protest.