The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 18 Feb 2008

18.02.2008 ‘Cold, Hunger, Rats’ – Franak Viachorka about Conditions in Akrestsin Jail

Franak Viachorka, the chair of the cultural commission of the BPF Party, has been expelled from the journalistic faculty of Belarusian State University for poor academic progress. He did not manage to pass his exams in time because of 15-day arrest for ‘dirty swearing in public’.

18.02.2008 Constituent Assembly of Donors’ Organization in Mahiliou

On 16 February the constituent assembly of the donor’s organization Kroplia Zhyttsia (Drop of Life) took place in Belarus. The ten founders of the organization adopted the association’s charter and decided to pass to Minsk city executive committee documents for its registration

18.02.2008 Criminal Case against Aliaksei Sarnou Passed to Court

Hrodna police has passed to court a criminal case against Aliaksei Sarnou, who in the night of 17 December had made graffiti on the walls of two houses. That’s how he expressed his protest against the liquidation of social guarantees by the Belarusian authorities.

18.02.2008 Kazulin's Daughter Detained at Entrepreneurs' Action

Volha Kazulina was detained at the protest action of entrepreneurs together with Natallia Harachka and Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh.

18.02.2008 Aliaksandr Zdvizhkou Put in Prison Hospital

Radio Svaboda has learnt about that after the journalist’s mother Hanna Zdzvizhkova visited Minsk remand prison.

18.02.2008 Detained Young Front Activists Were Released with No Violation Reports Drawn up

All members of the underground oppositional organization Young Front arrested near Minsk on Saturday were released without charges later that day.

18.02.2008 Aliaksandr Milinkevich Detained and Interrogated

On 18 February the leader of the For Freedom! movement Aliaksandr Milinkevich was detained in Minsk. As the Charter’97 press-center was told by his wife, Ina Kulei, who was near him at the moment of detention, everything happened rather quickly and unexpectedly.

18.02.2008 Iryna Kazulina Disproves Lukashenka’s Words

‘I would like to listen to the conditions of release offered by Lukashenka to Aliaksandr. The things said by his messenger to us were unacceptable. It would be a dishonorable flight from the country,’ the open letter of the wife of the former candidate for presidency Aliaksandr Kazulin, Iryna Kazulina, published at the web site of the politician.

18.02.2008 Minsk:: Entrepreneurs' Action Disperced by Police

Entrepreneurs’ protest action, which was to be held in Minsk on 18 February, was cracked down by riot police. The people were forced out of square several times, as people come to the action. They were pushed out in the direction of Internatsyianalnaya and Bahdanovich streets. Total about 1 000 people participated in the action. Political prisoner Aliaksandr Kazulin’s daughter Volha, the leader of the movement For Freedom! Aliaksandr Milinkevich, a leader of the entrepreneur movement Aliaksandr Makayeu and a democratic activist Viachaslau Siuchyk were detained.

18.02.2008 A.Klimau: ‘First of All I Need to Feel That I am Free’

On 16 February, at 6 a.m. the former political prisoner Andrei Klimau returned to Minsk by train Kalinkavichy-Minsk. He was met by his mother, wife, friends, oppositions and journalists.