The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2009

09.03.2009 Mikhail Pashkevich gets official warning

The head of the youth organization of the United Civil Party Young Democrats Mikhail Pashkevich received a warning for violation of the regime of personal restraint.

09.03.2009 Cassation complaint of ‘New Life’ Church turned down by court

On 5 March the College Board of The Supreme Economical Court of Belarus turned down the cassation complaint of New Life Church against the verdict of the Supreme Economical Court of 13 January 2009.

09.03.2009 Valiantsin Stefanovich: ‘People are eliminated in Belarus. It is terrible’

‘I was shocked by the death of Yana Paliakova. The cases when people are eliminated are becoming more frequent in Belarus,’ commented to the press-center of Charter97 the human rights activist Valiantsin Stefanovich.

09.03.2009 Detentions for EU symbols continue in Belarus

The police continue detaining opposition activists for leaflets and stickers with the EU symbols. In the evening of 7 March in the town of Biaroza in Brest oblast they detained the activist of European Belarus Aliaksei Masetsich.

09.03.2009 Construction of nuclear power station is discussed at Assembly of pro-democratic NGOs

Construction of the new nuclear power plant in Astravets district presents a threat not only to Astravets district, but to Minsk as well. The matter is that the winds that blow from the North-East cover the capital of Belarus. That’s why the anti-nuclear campaign must not be lead solely by citizens of Astravets, but must be supported all over Belarus.

09.03.2009 Dzianis Vaskabovich: we will defend our rights

Dzianis Vaskabovich is 36 years old. He is an architect. Graduated from the Belarusian Polytechnical Academy, has two sons. They lived in a private house that is ruined because of construction of metro along Dziarzhynski Avenue. The Vaskabovich’s and many of their neighbors were offered to move to the social apartments, where the life conditions are worse, and got no compensation from the state for it.

09.03.2009 Human rights civil association ‘Brestskaya Viasna’ is denied registration again

The fourth attempt to register the human rights organization in Brest oblast was unsuccessful. The main justice department of Brest oblast executive committee refused to register the civil human rights association Brestskaya Viasna.

09.03.2009 Assembly of pro-democratic NGOs calls the authorities to stop the abuse of the law On counteraction to extremism

On 6-7 March the 6th assembly of pro-democratic NGOs of Belarus was held at the international educational center (IBB) in Minsk. The aim of the forum was to analyze the situation in the third sector, the juridical situation of NGOs and elaborate and adopt the strategy of the Assembly’s activities for the near future.

09.03.2009 Political activists are threatened with dismissals

Members of Svetlahorsk branch of Young Front and the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party are threatened with dismissals from work for participation in the constituent assembly of the BCD.

09.03.2009 Artsiom Dubski is given official charges

The official charges have been presented to Artsiom Dubski, Young Front activist and former participant of the Process of 14. The oppositionist faces from 6 month to 3 years in prison.

09.03.2009 Belarusians in Germany: Cooperation with Lukashenka’s regime is fellowship in crimes

The Union of Belarusians in Germany offers the EU countries to suspend relations with Alexander Lukashenka and demands to punish those responsible for suicide of human rights activist Yana Paliakova.

09.03.2009 Political prisoner Yana Paliakova committed suicide

On 7 March Yana Paliakova, who has been recently sentenced to 2.5 years of personal restraint by Salihorsk court, committed suicide.

09.03.2009 Statement of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Belarus.

05.03.2009 Baranavichy: trial over picketer

Today in Baranavichy there took place the first sitting of the administrative case against Ryhor Hryk. The police accuse hum of organization of an unauthorized picket and distribution of non-state press.

05.03.2009 Supreme Economical Court turns down suit of ‘Novaye Zhyttsio’ Church

The College Board of the Supreme Economical Court turned down the lawsuit of the Protestant church Novaye Zhyttsio against the verdict of the Supreme Economical Court of 13 January 2009.