The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for June 2009

10.06.2009 DDOs attack on website of Charter’97 lasts for third day already

Two days ago the DDoS attack on the website of the civil initiative has begun. According to their information, the attack is conducted from more than 5000 zombie computers. As a result of the attack the website was blocked for more than a day.

10.06.2009 Emanuel Zeltser goes on hunger-strike

The arrested US citizen protests against arbitrary action of Belarusian authorities and demands immediate release.

10.06.2009 Artsiom Dubski is fined for graffiti in support of Autukhovich

The court of Asipovichy punished the Young Front activist Artsiom Dubski with a fine.

10.06.2009 Activists of ‘European Belarus’ get detained for action of solidarity with Mikalai Autukhovich

European Belarus activists were detained for holding an action of solidarity with political prisoners.

09.06.2009 Mikalai Autukhovich’s lawyer Pavel Sapelka complained to the prosecutor’s office of Belarus against actions of the investigation

‘I cannot tell which actions I am complaining about, because I have signed the pledge of secrecy of the investigation materials,’ said Pavel Sapelka.

09.06.2009 Belarusian Green Party is indignant at mass killing of dogs in Minsk

The Belarusian Green Party demands from the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly to urgently adopt a law that would protect animals from violent treatment. This demand is set forth a resolution of the central council of the BGP.

09.06.2009 Hrodna: Andrei Pachobut warned by prosecutor

The member of the disgraced Union of Poles in Belarus Andrei Pachobut was summoned to Hrodna oblast prosecutor's office and read an official warning about inadmissibility of violations of the Belarusian legislation. Pachobut was warned that he had no right to introduce himself as the chairman of the Main Council of the Union of Poles in Belarus and was prohibited to use the UPB symbols.

09.06.2009 Activist of the BPF Youth Anton Kalinouski is detained on the border

In the morning of 9 June the border guards detained the activist of the BPF Youth Anton Kalinouski. They took away Anton's laptop for examination and searched his personal belongings. In four hours he was let go.

08.06.2009 ‘Death’ was walking on Niamiha in the company of policemen in mufti

On 5 June several volunteers of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee tried held a theatric performance for abolishment of the death penalty in Belarus.

08.06.2009 Vaukavysk: fines to participants of action in support of Mikalai Autukhovich

On 8 June the judge of Vaukavysk district court Sviatlana Lantsevich fined participants of the action in support of the political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich that was held on 16 May. The head of Hrodna oblast UCP organization Yury Istomin was fined 700 000 rubles (about $252) under Article 23.34, part 3 of the Administrative Code. The members of the UCP Zmitser Bandarchuk, Andrei Ihnatsiuk, Aleh Kalinkou, Mikhas Ladushka and Alexandra Vasilevich and the head of Civil Forum Pavel Drachou were fined 70 000 rubles ($25) under Article 23.34, part 1. The trial of Vital Huliak was postponed because of his absence.

08.06.2009 Yauhen Skrabets appeals against forced medical examination

The activist of Brest branch of the Young Front Yauhen Skrabets has been released from hospital in the evening on 5 June. Bear in mind that several days ago the police and officers of the military enlistment office detained him near the entrance of his house and forcedly took to Brest oblast hospital for medical examination.

08.06.2009 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in May 2009

In May several mass actions took place, all of them under vigilant police surveillance. In particular, on 7 May an action marking the tenth anniversary of disappearance of opposition politician, former Interior Minister Yury Zakharanka was held in the center of Minsk. Scores of civil activists were detained on the eve. Haunting also continued in different parts of Minsk after the action. A total of 30 people were detained. The detainees were pulled into busses where they were insulted and beaten by police. As written by Maksim Serhiyets in his complaint, police officers humiliated and threatened him. They took away his mobile phone and then hit him in stomach with hands and feet and smothered him. These actions were accompanied with four-letter words. One of the policemen seized the activist by the coat and tore it. When Mr. Serhiyets was thrown down on the bus floor, one of the policemen walked on his back. Other detainees also lied down on the floor and were beaten. Then all detainees were guarded to the Tsentralny district police department. In several hours they were let go without being explained the reasons for the detention. No reports were drawn up.

05.06.2009 Human rights organization ‘Brest Viasna’ is denied registration as well

Brest oblast executive committee again refused to register the human rights organization Brest Viasna.

05.06.2009 Baranavichy: human rights activist cannot receive documents in Belarusian language

While inheriting his parents’ house he human rights activist Siarhei Housha applied to the appropriate agencies with the requirement to issue the documents in the Belarusian language. However, instead of doing it the authorities referred to Article #8 of the Law On languages in the Republic of Belarus that lets them issue documents in Belarusian. Housha was also warned that the issue would be considered in court in case Housha would refuse to sign the act of the ordered works. The cashier of Baranavichy technical inventory bureau did not give him the change because he did not agree to write the returned sum in Russian.

05.06.2009 Ivan Shyla is tried in absentia

The court of Salihorsk considered Ivan Shyla’s complaint against the military enlistment office. Shyla demands the court to find illegal the actions of military and doctors during his forceful draft into the army.