The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for August 2009

12.08.2009 Chyhunachny district court of Vitebsk fined ‘Young Front’ activist Taras Surhan for white-red-white flag

The youth activist was arrested for an attempt to hang out a national white-red-white flag on the bridge above the Western Dvina River on Solidarity Day, 16 July. As RFE/RL reports, Taras Surhan was fined 175 000 Belarusian rubles (about $62).

11.08.2009 Brest: action against death penalty

On 10 August in Brest members of Young Front held an action for the abolition of death penalty in Belarus. The activists held out leaflets of Amnesty International in Savetskaya Street in the center of the city.

11.08.2009 KGB is reluctant to explain reasons for warning to Yan Roman

Ihar Siarheyenka, head of Hrodna oblast KGB department, refuses to explain the reasons for an official warning to Yan Roman, journalist for Radio Racyja.

11.08.2009 ‘Young Front’ activist Andrei Tsianiuta secretly expelled from Bryansk agricultural academy

On 10 August Andrei Tsianiuta, Young Front activist from Homel, was detained near his house by policemen and taken to the military enlistment office.

10.08.2009 ‘European Belarus’ activists detained for attempt to hang out white-red-white flag

Activists of European Belarus Aleh Ladutska and Mikalai Tkachenka were detained by police for an attempt to hang out a white-red-white flag at the railway station in Orsha. They were kept at the police station for four hours (though only three-hour detention without charges is allowed by the law). Police officers drew up interrogation protocols.

10.08.2009 Vaukavusk entrepreneur Yury Liavonau released from jail till trial

As said to BelaPAN by his daughter, Yury Liavonau got home on 8 August at 4.30 p.m. Mikalai Autukhovich and Uladzimir Asipenka are still kept in pre-trial prison #1 in Minsk.

10.08.2009 Court turns down complaint of ‘European Belarus’ Maksim Viniarski

On 7 August, a complaint of activist of the civil campaign European Belarus Maksim Viniarski was considered in court.

10.08.2009 Investigation into case of political prisoner Uladzimir Asipenka extended for 2 months

The investigation into the case of one of three entrepreneurs from Vaukavysk Uladzimir Asipenka has been extended to two months. Daughter of the political prisoner Liudmila Asipenka told about it on 10 August.

10.08.2009 Entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus punished for serving free dinner

Mikalai Charnavus got a warning from the sanitary epidemiological service of Baranavichy for organizing food handouts at a town market.

10.08.2009 BPF activist Siarhei Salash taken saliva analysis in murder case

Siarhei Salash, head of Barysau branch of BPF party, visited the local police department on 7 August.

07.08.2009 Human rights defender Leanid Svetsik achieved success in struggle against labor discrimination

Human rights defender Leanid Svetsik initiated amendment of the labor laws for stopping discrimination of citizens. The Constitutional Court considered his address and adopted a recommendation for the amendment of the Labor Code and the law On the employment of the population of the Republic of Belarus.

07.08.2009 Head of Barysau BPF branch is summoned to police in connection with murder

Siarhei Salash, head of Barysau branch of Belarusian Popular Front Party stated to RFE/RL that he had received a telephone call from officer of Barysau police Andrei Churkin and was invited for a talk concerning a murder in Maladechna.

06.08.2009 Ales Bialiatski: ‘The attitude to human rights activists hasn’t changed since the liquidation of ‘Viasna’ till registration denial to ‘Nasha Viasna’

Belarusian human rights activist ales Bialiatski, vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights, gives an outline of the situation of human rights defenders in Belarus during the recent years.

06.08.2009 Pressurization of ‘New Life’ church continues

Minsk city authorities have increased pressure on the New Life charismatic church. The European Radio for Belarus has been informed about it by the church lawyer Siarhei Lukanin.

06.08.2009 Fine for protest against resolution #991

Maskouski district court fined Young Front activist Aleh Valatkouski 1 050 000 rubles (about $ 372) for a demand to cancel the scandalous resolution. The defendant must also pay 500 000 rubles of compensation to utilities enterprise Partyzanskaya.