27.01.2009 The International Holocaust Remembrance Day: 805,000 Jews died in Belarus

27 January is of liberation of Nazi death camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau. Since 2005, this day has been marking as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

On January 26–27, the European Parliament holds its session in the former Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp, Radio Svaboda reports.

A word ‘Holocaust’ has gone down in history as name of the policy of Nazi Germany that led to killing of 6 million Hews in 1933–1945. Professor, Doctor of Historical Sciences Emmanuel Yofe dedicated his life to Holocaust research.

27.01.2009 Hanging up national flag equaled with hooliganism

An activist of “European Belarus” Marta Majseenka has been fined for flying the national flag on October Square in Minsk.

On December 30 the girl was detained for hanging up the national flag on the New Year Tree on October Square in Minsk. Riot policemen traditionally accused her of foul speech in a public place. The girl spent a night in a cell in the police department of Tsentralny district. A report was drawn up on charges relating article 17.1 of the Administrative Code (“petty hooliganism”) against the activist. Trial started the next day, but as witnesses, riot policemen who detained Marta, didn’t appear in the court, the trial was rescheduled for January 13, the website of “European Belarus” campaign informs.

27.01.2009 Magedburg rights ban?

Mahiliou town police confiscated 153 copies of the Mahiliouski chas newspaper special issue dedicated to the 432nd anniversary of the Magdeburg law adoption in Mahilou, as three civil activists Aliaksnadr Silkou, Siarhei Niahatsin and Yury Stukalava were distributing the newspaper in the town center. According to Aliaksandr Silkou, the activists were told the newspapers would be returned several days later provided all the procedures had been followed by the activists. Mr.Silkou also declared he would appeal the seizure, since the newspaper copies had all the necessary output data and the police had no right to confiscate them.

26.01.2009 Human rights activists against death penalty campaign launched in Belarus

A number of Belarusian human rights experts have launched a public campaign aimed at the abolition of capital punishment in Belarus. A special petition drawn up by representatives of the Belarusian human rights community will be sent to the Parliament, the Government and the President of Belarus.

26.01.2009 Human rights council to be created by Lukashenka

According to Radio Racyja, a public human rights council is about to be founded by the president’s administration. As yet, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee is the only organization to have been offered cooperation. The council is likely to hold two sessions a month.

26.01.2009 Opposition leader Franak Viachorka to join army, says court

According to Franak Viachorka’s lawyer, the activists was found fit for military service by Minsk Savetski Borough Court in absentia on 23 January, despite the fact he the hearing was due on 26 January. Vintsuk Viachorka, Franak’s father and vice-head of the BPF party, says the decision is the most blatant violation of judicial procedures over the Lukashenka years, since it was a closed trial in absentia (the defendant was misled by representatives of the court).

26.01.2009 Radio Racyja denied accreditation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied accreditation to Radio Racyja, an independent radio channel financed by the Polish MFA. In a conversation at the Belarusian MFA, the journalists were informed they could work without accreditation as they had worked before. In early January 2009, one of Radio Racyja’s journalists was denied accreditation for similar reasons. Representatives of the radio channel say both decisions must have been made simultaneously.

26.01.2009 Statement on Nasha Viasna registration

On 26 January 2009 the Nasha Viasna human rights organization applied for registration to the Ministry of Justice of Belarus. The decision by the Supreme Court of Belarus of 28 January 2003 to liquidate the human rights center Viasna was an outrage against the freedom of association, guaranteed by the Belarusian Constitution and international human rights agreements. On 24 June 2007 the UN Human Rights Committee adopted a resolution, stating that by closing down Viasna the Belarusian authorities violated Article 22-1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In its resolution the UNHCC confirmed Viasna’s right to adequate means of legal protection, including re-registration and compensation. It also obliged the Belarusian government to take precautions against similar violations in future.

23.01.2009 IBB refused to accommodate Christian Democrats assembly

The German International Educational Center IBB will not host the constituent assembly of the newly created Belarusian Christian Democracy organization. IBB Representatives said the application was correct and the conference hall is not occupied on 28 January, but refused to accommodate the assembly.

23.01.2009 Belarusian Christians demand to respect their rights

As a result of a round table discussion on the freedom of conscience in Belarus, the leading experts adopted a resolution with a demand to liberalize the Belarusian law ‘On the Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations’.

23.01.2009 Human rights activist sentenced for ‘disorderly conduct’

On 22 January Vitsebsk Pershamaiski Borough Court sentenced human rights activist Valery Shchukin to a BYR 70,000 fine for disorderly conduct in December 2008, as he was trying to protect an under-aged Maksim Andreyeu from mental cruelty by a hospital psychiatrist. Maksim was deprived of his right to live with his mother and kept in a mental hospital.

23.01.2009 Franak Viachorka’s draft delayed

Minsk Savetski Borough Court resolved to suspend the process of drafting the BPF’s Youth leader Franak Viachorka, after he appealed against the numerous violations by military officials and medics as he was forced to join the army. On 21 January Franak Viachorka was detained by plainclothes policemen as he was undergoing a medical examination in one of Minsk hospitals. The young politician had previously had an eye surgery and therefore was granted deferment from military service. However, Viachorka was informed he would soon be taken to a military unit.

23.01.2009 Vintsuk Vyachorka: ODIHR OSCE Director said he won’t “dance” with Belarusian government

A meeting of Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, the Director of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), with representatives of opposition has been held in Minsk.

As the Charter’97 press-centre has been informed by the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front party Vintsuk Vyachorka, the aim of Janez Lenarcic’s visit to Minsk was to fashion the actions of the Belarusian government in cooperation with the OSCE concerning democratisation of the country.

23.01.2009 EU’s Commissioner: There were lots of things missing on the democratic side in Belarus

The EU's Commissioner said Belarus couldn’t join the Eastern Partnership without democratic reforms.

The Eastern Partnership is an offer that the European Union gives to the six Eastern countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus (on certain conditions).

22.01.2009 Human rights expert comments on statement by Prosecutor General Vasilevich

On 21 January at a press-conference, dedicated to the recent facts of corruption among Belarusian officials, the General Prosecutor Ryhor Vasilevich said Belarus might abolish death penalty in case the country is admitted to the Council of Europe. Otherwise, Belarus will continue using the sentence as a preventive measure.