The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 11 Feb 2008

11.02.2008 Human Rights Center 'Viasna' Nominates Zmitser Zhaleznichenka for Student Peace Prize

Human Rights Center Viasna initiated the nomination of the Belarusian student Zmitser Zhaleznichenka for Student Peace Prize.

11.02.2008 Hrodna: Ministry of Emergency Situations Prohibits UCP Office to Accept More than 15 Persons at Once

The chairman of Hrodna oblast office of the United Civil Party stated that the Ministry of Emergency Situations handed to him a ruling ‘on suspension of the organization’s activities’. By this ruling the UCP members are ordered to stop holding mass events in the UCP office in Budzionny Stret 48a-100 in Hrodna.

11.02.2008 BRSM Ordered Who to Send Valentines to

The Belarusian Republican Youth Union (pro-Lukashenka youth ‘state NGO’) holds an action dedicated to St. Valentine’s Day. Recently the regional structures of the organization have received the lists of the persons who they must send Valentine cards to.

11.02.2008 Vitsebsk Authorities Strictly Ban Meeting with Milinkevich

Vitsebsk authorities have prohibited a meeting of with the leader of the For Freedom! movement Aliaksandr Milinkevich. The local activists Alena Famina, Aliaksei Haurutsikau and Khrystafor Zhaliapau have received a refusal from the chairman of Vitsebsk city executive committee Pavel Losich.

11.02.2008 Protestant Priests Make Ultimatum to Lukashenka

The pastors of more than 40 Belarusian churches of the Association of Communities of Full Gospel Christians have applied to Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

11.02.2008 Baranavichy: Police Try to Disrupt Action of Entrepreneurs

On 10 February in Baranavichy the local entrepreneurs held an action of protest against president’s decree #760. More than 200 entrepreneurs, activists of public movements and political parties gathered in the city park despite the refusal of the authorities to authorize the action.

11.02.2008 Human Rights Activists and Members of BPF Party Prohibited to Meet with Zhaleznichenka

On Sunday, 10 February, the human rights activists from Homel and Rechytsa and members of the Belarusian People’s Front Party from Zhlobin came to military units 83469 where Zmitser Zhaleznichenka is being illegally kept. The duty soldier refused to let them meet with the activist, referring to a recently introduced quarantine.

11.02.2008 New Professional Restrictions

A special permission by the authorities, named as professional and psychological interview or testing, is needed to study such disciplines as international activity, journalism, law.

11.02.2008 Amnesty International and Belarusian Helsinki Committee Condemn Executions of Convicts in Belarus

On 5 February 5 the Supreme Court of Belarus announced that Siarhei Marozau, the leader of a Homel-based criminal gang, and his close associates, Valery Harbaty and Ihar Danchanka, had been executed by shooting. The three were sentenced to death by shooting in a months-long trial that came to an end on 1 December 2006. The so-called Marozau Gang, which was said to have terrorized the Homel region between 1990 and 2004, was accused of 16 murders.