24.06.2009 Front Line joins Stop 193.1! campaign

Front Line calls for the repeal of Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus in support of the campaign “STOP 193.1!” lead by the Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs, the largest Belarusian coalition of NGOs. Article 193.1 criminalises any independent human rights initiative in Belarus and gives state officials the power to stop activities of human rights organisations at any time.

24.06.2009 Hrodna human rights activists fight against death penalty

Members of Viasna’s Hrodna office held a three-day civil campaign against the death penalty. The action was joined by several other opposition activists, including members of the UCPB, Young Democrats and the Civil Forum. The activists distributed calendars with an inscription ‘Belarus is the only European country, which still uses the death penalty.’ They also informed local residents of the situation with the death penalty both in Europe and in Belarus.

24.06.2009 Belarusian Parliament passes law on travel regulations

On 24 June the House of Representatives of Belarus passed the law on travel regulations at the second reading. According to Yauhen Melnikau, member of the parliamentary committee on national relations and mass media, said the bill would unify the grounds for temporary travel restrictions, including the cases of protecting national security, criminal prosecution etc.

24.06.2009 Chief Editor of independent newspaper warned by local authorities

According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists’ press-service, Uladzimir Skrabatun, editor-in-chief of the Volnaye Hlybokaye independent newspaper, has been warned by the town of authorities of Hlybokaye, Vitsebsk region following a complaint by an unknown town resident. The warning was issued for violating entrepreneurs’ regulations, after Mr.Skrabatun’s daughter Nadzeya, engaged in selling the newspaper at the local market, refused to give a client the book of complaints.

24.06.2009 Polish-language press seized from leaders of Union of Poles of Belarus

Leaders of the Union of Poles of Belarus Mieczyslaw Jaskiewicz, Ihar Bantsar, Andrzej Pisalnik, and Andrzej Poczobut had to spend three hours at a militia station in Shchuchyn.

Militia officers confiscated Glos znad Niemna na uchodzstwie newspaper and Magazyn Polski, printed by the Union of Poles of Belarus headed by Andżelika Borys, Radio Svaboda reports.

A report of seizure was drawn up. Militiamen said the activists had been detained as militia had received information they were carrying anti-state materials. The department on ideology of the Shchuchyn district executive committee would check the newspaper and the magazine, journalist of Gazeta Wyborcza Andrzej Poczobut said. He also told the militia officers tried to hinder them to get to Ivyanets for a session of the local UPB branch.

24.06.2009 PACE calls on Belarus to register Nasha Viasna

Resolution 1671 (2009)1 Parliamentary Assembly Assemblee parlementaire