The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2008

10.03.2008 Criminal Cases for Participation in 10 January Entrepreneurs’ Rally

Recently a criminal case has been brought on the fact of ‘organization and active participation in the actions that grossly violate the public order’ (article 342, part 1 of the Criminal Code), in connection with the peaceful action of the Belarusian entrepreneurs that was held on 10 January in the center of Minsk. The punishments on this article vary from fine to 3 years of jail. At present there are 14 accused in the case.

10.03.2008 11 March – Continuation of Trial over Organizers of European March Rally

On 11 March, at 10 a.m. the trial over the organizers of the European March rally, held on 14 October 2007, will take place at Savetski district court of Minsk. It will be already the second attempt of the judge Siarhei Barazna to hold a successful trial and read the verdict, as on 25 February the hearings were suspended because of the illness of one of the defendants.

10.03.2008 For Freedom: Third Attempt to Obtain Legal Status

Today, on 10 March, representatives of the For Freedom movement, headed by Aliaksandr Milinkevich, again passed to the Ministry of Justice a packet of documents for state registration of the NGO.

10.03.2008 Pastor of ‘New Life’ Church Fined

Maskouski district court of Minsk ruled to fine the past of the New Life Church Viachaslau Hancharenka 250 000 rubles for non-implementation of the prosecutor’s ruling.

10.03.2008 Minsk: Police Detain ‘Young Front’ Members

On 9 March the Central council of the underground organization Young Front gathered in the Serabranka suburb of Minsk, at the office of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions.

10.03.2008 'Euronews' Conceal Reasons for US Sanctions against Belarus

The Russian service of the pan-European TV channel Euronews informed about the reaction of the Belarusian population to the sanctions imposed by the US.

10.03.2008 Skrabets Brothers Declare Hunger-strike for Release of Political Prisoners

A former deputy of the Chamber of Representatives Siarhei Skrabets and his younger brother Aliaksandr have announced an indefinite hunger strike today. They demand Aliakasndr Lukashenka to release political prisoners Aliaksandr Kazulin, Andrei Kim and Siarhei Parsiukevich.

07.03.2008 KGB Helped by Military Enlistment Offices

On 6 March the workers of Homel oblast KGB office tried to interrogate the activist of the youth organization Civil Forum Andrei Stryzhak in the building of Rechytsa military enlistment office.

07.03.2008 Babruisk: Artsiom Dubski Detained

As we learned, Artsiom was going to Minsk with photos for an exhibition in Brussels. The detention was performed by the senior lieutenant Malakhau and ensign Radzkou. They confiscated from Dubski copies of the local non-state newspaper Babruiski kuryier. Bear in mind that Artsiom is one of the fourteen accused in the criminal case brought on the fact of ‘mass riot’ during the peaceful action of protest, held by the Belarusian entrepreneurs on 10 January in the center of Minsk.

07.03.2008 You can picket … with the agreement of police, firemen and ambulance

The consideration of the suit of Hrodna office of the United Civil Party against the local authorities lasted for about three months.

07.03.2008 New Accused in Criminal Case on Events of 10 January

20-year-old Anton Koipish is accused in violation of the public order and active participation in the protest rally of entrepreneurs held on 10 January in the center of Minsk. In particular, he is accused of having taken part in stopping the traffic in Nezalezhnastsi Avenue. The maximal punishment under the accusation article is 3 years of jail. He has also been expelled from the fourth year at the mechanic-mathematical faculty of Belarusian State University. He became the 14th person accused in a common criminal case on the fact of ‘mass riot’ during the entrepreneurs’ action.

07.03.2008 Press-conference of Suspects in Criminal Case

On 7 March the opposition activists, suspected and accused on the criminal case on entrepreneurs’ action 10 January, held a press conference in the main office of the United Civil Party. Many riot policemen were watching outside the building where the UCP head-office is situated.

07.03.2008 Siarhei Parsiukevich Left in Jail

The leader of Vitsebsk individual entrepreneurs Siarhei Parsiukevich is to stay in the pre-trial prison in Valadarski Street, Minsk. The decision to uphold the measure of restraint, arrest, has been taken by the prosecutor’s office of Maskouski district of Minsk.

07.03.2008 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in February 2008

In February Belarusian human rights defenders paid most attention to political prisoners and politically motivated criminal cases. The main event this month was the abolishment of the politically motivated verdicts to the youth activist Artur Finkevich and the journalist Alexander Zdvizhkou, as a result of which both were released from jail. The authorities also granted parole to the entrepreneurs Mikalai Autukhovich and Yury Liavonau and the oppositional politician Andrei Klimau. However, despite the demands of the EU and the US the former candidate to president of Belarus Alexander Kazulin remained behind bars. He was proposed release from jail in exchange for emigration to Germany and cessation of political activities. In addition, the authorities demonstrated an exceptional violence in relation to Kazulin’s family. His wife Iryna died of cancer and the authorities didn’t let him go to the funeral for two days. It cannot but be considered as a violation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, ratified by Belarus.

06.03.2008 All Draftees Who Have Surnames Starting with ‘K’ and ‘V’ Are Summonsed to Military Enlistment Office

The authorities continue using a new tactics of pressing youth activists out of the public life – drafting them to army. Recently the activists of the BPF Youth Anton Kalinouski and Franak Viachorka were summonsed to Savetski district military enlistment office in Minsk. Earlier Kalinouski was expelled from the translator’s faculty of Minsk State Linguistic University and Franak Viachorka – from the journalist faculty of Belarusian State University.