The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for June 2009

15.06.2009 Maxim Dashuk sentenced to 15 months of personal restraint

Participant of the ‘process of 14’, prisoner of conscience Maxim Dashuk has been sentenced to 15 months of personal restraint without direction to open prison facility.

12.06.2009 Elections to Chamber of Representatives of National Assembly of Republic of Belarus of 4th Convocation: results of monitoring

The elections to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the Fourth Convocation took place on 28 September 2008. Within the framework of the campaign Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections long-term monitoring was organized in the largest towns and cities of the country and covered 86 electoral constituencies out of 110.

12.06.2009 Observatory for Protection of Human Rights Defenders urges Belarusian authorities to re-register 'Viasna' and stop harassment of human rights defeners

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

12.06.2009 Prosecutor general refuses to meet with ‘Women against Lawlessness in Courts’

The prosecutor general Ryhor Vasilevich refused to meet with activists of the civil initiative Women against Lawlessness in Courts.

12.06.2009 Criminal case instigated on kidnapping of Dzianis Karnou and Nasta Palazhanka

A criminal case has been instigated on the kidnapping of the Young Front activists Dzianis Karnou and Nasta Palazhanka on the eve of the 25 March rally.

12.06.2009 Participant of ‘process of 14’ Mikhail Pashkevich amnestied

The leader of Young Democrats was familiarized with the order of the prosecutor of Biaroza district saying he was included in the amnesty.

11.06.2009 Non-state newspaper ‘Borisovskie Novosti’ is accused of defamation

On 10 January Barysau district court started trying the lawsuit of the editor of the newspaper of Barysau district executive committee Adzinstva V.Pratasevich against the journalist of the newspaper Borisovskiye Novosti V.Nitski and the publishing house Bukas Media Center.

11.06.2009 Trial of Leanid Svetsik: victims demand the case be dropped

The judge of Vitsebsk oblast court Halina Urbanovich announced a break after the petition of the defendant Leanid Svetsik for cessation of legal persecution and dropping the criminal case against him. The human rights defender said that he could not understand what he was accused in and considered himself innocent.

11.06.2009 Valiantsin Stefanovich: ‘This trial is an attempt to discredit human rights movement’

The first day of the trial of Leanid Svetsik started with the ejection of the independent journalists who had covered the appearance of anonymous threat letters on behalf of ‘Vitsebsk branch of the Russian National Unity’ in which Svetsik is accused.

11.06.2009 Brest: detentions at action against eviction of Zhana Abramava

At 10.30 a.m. in Brest the police detained some participants of the picket against the politically grounded eviction of the civil activist Zhana Abramava from her apartment. Other people came to the place to replace them. The police again detained Mikhas Iliin and Andrei Sharenda.

11.06.2009 Deputy head of the presidential administration: the introduction of moratorium on death penalty is possible

The question of introduction of moratorium on death penalty in Belarus is at the stage of discussion, stated the deputy head of the presidential administration Valer Mitskevich.

11.06.2009 Belarusian Christian Democracy appeals against registration denial

The Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD) party has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against the denial of state registration by the justice ministry.

10.06.2009 Trial of human rights defender Leanid Svetsik: new surprises

On 10 June Vitsebsk oblast court considered the criminal case against Leanid Svetsik. The trial started at 10 a.m. with an unexpected incident. An unknown youngster unfurled the protest ‘KGB – fascists’ and explained that in such a way he wanted to express his protest against the fabrication of the criminal case against Mr. Svetsik by the local KGB department. After showing the poster he left the court hall.

10.06.2009 Liavon Volski: ‘We will not change anything by killing a man who has committed even a very terrible crime. Besides, it will cause more bloodthirstiness’

The founder of the rock-bands Mroya, NRM and the musical project Krambambulia Liavon Volski has joined the campaign against the death penalty, launched by the Belarusian human rights defenders.

10.06.2009 Non-state editions are trying return to the state distribution net

A number of regional non-state newspapers again addressed BelPoshta (Belarusian Post, the state monopolist on distribution of press by subscription) and Belsayuzdruk (the state monopolist on retail of press from newsstands). They hope to get positive answers because of the recent sitting of the civil coordinative council of mass media.