The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for May 2008

14.05.2008 Last four figurants of the ‘case of fourteen’ to be tried 23 May

23 May the trial in the case of participants of the protest rally of market vendors is to continue in the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk.

13.05.2008 Prosecutor’s office interrogates BelSat coordinator

Recently the coordinator of the BelSat satellite TV channel for Belarus Eduard Melnikau has received summons to the prosecutor’s office of Minsk. However, the reasons were not specified in the document. When Melnikau phoned to the investigator and asked him, the investigator seemed to be surprised. ‘Don’t you know yet?’ he asked.

12.05.2008 MIA offers apologies to Nasta Palazhanka

11 May the deputy chairperson of the Young Front Nasta Palazhanka received an answer from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to her address requiring explanations for application of foreign travel restrictions towards her.

12.05.2008 Cherykau: police threaten journalist-veteran with arrest on Victory Day

In the town of Cherykau Mikalai Tsarkou, editor of the Cherykauskiya Naviny newspaper, and Siarhei Panizoutsau, its photo correspondent, were prohibited to take photos of participants of the official demonstration in the honor of the Victory Day. The acting chairman of Cherykau police, major Raikou explained that by their actions the journalists allegedly hindered the action. The policemen tried to detain them and take to a police department.

12.05.2008 KGB continues pressurizing youth activists

Recently a member of the youth wing of the BPF Party Ruslan Shoshyn was to have come to Sweden for a short-term educational seminar. However, he got ill and had to stay in Belarus.

12.05.2008 Anzhalika Borys tried for organizing a concert

A chair of the Union of Poles in Belarus Anzhalika Borys faces an administrative penalty for organizing a concert of the Polish band Lombard in Brest.

12.05.2008 Young Front supports boycott of the upcoming election

The underground youth organization Young Front is against participation in the so-called parliamentary election appointed on autumn by the Belarusian authorities.

12.05.2008 Political prisoner Siarhei Parsiukevich needs urgent operation

According to his lawyer, Vera Stramkouskaya, Parsiukevich has asthma aggravation, and doctors recommend him an urgent operation. There are no conditions for it in the Zhlobin detention center, RFE/RL reports.

08.05.2008 Student Aleh Hrubich not let abroad

Aleh Hrubich, first-year student of the faculty of Belarusian history and cultural anthropology of the European Humanities University came from Vilnius to Minsk on holidays, but didn’t manage to return back. The border guards took him off the train without explaining anything and made him wait for five hours. Then he was taken to Minsk for ‘further discrimination’.

08.05.2008 Hrodna oppositionists harassed for white-red-white flag

Viktar Sazonau, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada, and Yury Istomin, chairman of Hrodna oblast branch of the United Civil Party, are persecuted by Hrodna police. 7 May the police major Piatro Lenets phoned to them and proposed to come to Leninski district police department of Hrodna for giving some explanations.

08.05.2008 Andrei Tsianiuta to pay for hunger strike?

The pre-trial prison of Homel has sued against Andrei Tsianiuta, leader of Homel branch of the Young Front to exact from him the money for 10-day arrest on the eve of the Freedom Day, 25 March.

08.05.2008 Young Democrats collect signatures for installment of memorial shield to Zakharanka

Yury Zakharanka, former minister of internal affairs, was kidnapped 7 May 1999. The Young Democrats marked this mournful date by collecting signatures for installment of a memorial shield to Yury Zakharanka on the wall of the house in Zhukouski Street, 9, where he used to live.

08.05.2008 Action of United Civil Party in place of Zakharanka’s kidnap

8 May in Mahiliouskaya Street in Minsk, in the place where the ex-minister of internal affairs Yury Zakharanka had been kidnapped nine years ago, activists of the United Civil Party including its chairman Anatol Liabedzka have carried out an action in his memory.

08.05.2008 Prosecutor’s office upholds KGB actions against independent journalists

Homel oblast KGB office found no law violations in the actions of the persons who had conducted a search in the apartment of the journalist Anatol Hatouchyts, member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, and took away his instruments of labor. The return of the confiscated items depends on the ‘organ by which the criminal investigation is lead’.

08.05.2008 KGB continues ‘prophylactic talks’ with students

Katsiaryna Yurchankova, third-year student of the library college in Mahiliou, was visited by a KGB officer during her studies. He introduced himself as Aliaksandr Miadzvedzeu, counter-intelligence officer. He had a tête-à-tête talk with Katsiaryna at the office of the college administration. The girl was invited there by one of the college teachers.