The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for February 2008

07.02.2008 Photo Report on Release of Political Prisoner Artur Finkevich

On 5 February Mahiliou oblast court considered the cassation complaint of the political prisoner Artur Finkevich. The trial was attended by the public and political activists of Mahiliou. From Minsk there came politicians and friends including Liudvisia Atakulava, Ales Kalita, Zmitser Khvedaruk, Aliaksandr Makayeu, Nasta Palazhanka, Ales Mikhalevich, Mikola Siarheyenka, Uladzimir Siarheyeu, Viachaslau Siwchyk, former political prisoners Enira Branitskaya, Zmitser Dashkevich and Pavel Seviarynets, a representative of the American Embassy and human rights activists.

07.02.2008 Aliaksei Shydlouski Asks Political Asylum in Czech

A former political prisoner, opposition activist Aliaksei Shydlouski has asked for political asylum in Czech. The reason is that he faces 10 years of jail because of a criminal case under part 3 of article 339 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism) has been brought against him recently.

07.02.2008 Polatsk: Search in Young Front Activist’s Apartment

Agents of Polatsk KGB office are searching the apartment of a Young Front activist Katsiaryna Salauyova. The search takes place within the frames of the criminal case that was brought against her for ‘participation in underground organization’ (article 193.1 of the Criminal Code).

07.02.2008 KGB Interrogates Activist of Belarusian Christian Democracy

On 5 February Maladechna KGB office summonsed a local public activist Henadz Faryno for a ‘talk’. They did not send any call-up, but Henadz had to come, because the KGB agent pressurized his relatives. The KGB agent who introduced himself as Siarhei Aksiuchyts asked him about the activities of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party and was especially interest in finding anything about its leaders Pavel Seviarynets and Aliaksei Shein.

07.02.2008 Fired from School for Membership in United Civil Party

Recently Aliaksandr Halavach has been fired from Minsk school #207 for membership in the youth wing of the United Civil Party. He said that he was summonsed by the schoolmaster Katsiaryna Sauchuk.

05.02.2008 Pressurization of Young Front Activist Alena Makarevich Continues

A week ago the activist of Minsk Young Front branch Alena Makarevich was summonsed to KGB. There she was proposed to stop her public and political activities and threatened with a criminal case otherwise.

05.02.2008 Ales Bialiatski: ‘One can speak of normalization of relations between the authorities and their political opponents only after the release of all political prisoners!’

On 5 February the college board of Mahiliou oblast court considered the cassation complaint on a criminal case against Artur Finkevich and reversed the verdict of Kastrychnitski district court of Mahiliou, according to which Finkevich was to have serve 1,5 years of jail for ‘evasion from serving his corrective labor term’.

05.02.2008 Young Front Activist Detained in Salihorsk

On 4 February in Salihorsk the police detained an activist of the underground organization Young Front Hleb Snorkin, who was returning home from a sitting of the local branch of the Young Front. The police searched the activists and found leaflets and hearts which he had prepared for the St. Valentine’s Day.

05.02.2008 Authorities Evict Citizens from the Center of Minsk

The tensest situation exists in Marx Street now. Authorities plant to start eviction of inhabitants from four houses this year. A casino, a hotel and a trading center are to appear instead of the houses. All inhabitants as one man are against of that.

05.02.2008 Political Prisoner Artur Finkevich Released from Custody

Hearing of the cassation appeal on the criminal case against Artur Finkevich, political prisoner and one of the Young Front leaders, has taken place today in the has reversed the judgement of the court of Kastrychnitski district of Mahiliou on 1.5-year imprisonment.

05.02.2008 Belarusian PEN-center Demands Reconsideration of Zdvizhkou’s Case and His Release

The deputy-editor of the Belarusian non-state newspaper Zgoda Aliaksandr Zdvizhkou has been sentenced to three years of high security prison for having reprinted Danish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, which was qualified as violation of article 130, part 2 of the Criminal Code, ‘fomentation of religious enmity’.

05.02.2008 Minsk City Court Justifies Arrest of Anatol Liabedzka

The judge of Minsk city court Tatsiana Yermalovich thinks that there are no reasons to abolish the ruling of the judge Volha Husakova towards Anatol Liabedka.

05.02.2008 Court Turns down Complaint against Bans of Peaceful Assemblies

On 1 February the court of Baranavichy and Baranavichy district considered the suit of the lawyer Karney Piatrovich against the ban of a picket by Baranavichy city executive committee. Despite convincing arguments proving that the ban was illegal the court, predictably enough, took the side of the authorities.

05.02.2008 Salihorsk: Young Front Activists Fined again

Recently Salihorsk court has abolished a number of decisions of the local administrative commissions, according to which activists of the underground youth organization Young Front were fined huge sums of money for participation in peaceful protest actions. Their cases were returned to the administrative commission for reconsideration.

05.02.2008 Entrepreneurs on Strike

In Belarus a part of individual entrepreneurs continue a strike against presidential decree #760, by which they have been prohibited to hire staff with the exception of three close relatives.