19.10.2009 Capitally convicted person pleas for mercy

On 16 October the lawyer of Vasil Yuzepchuk, sentenced to death penalty for alleged murder of six elderly women, has lodged an appeal for pardon with President Lukashenka. The convict asks to spare his life, due to possible future circumstances that may prove his innocence. In case the verdict is executed, and such circumstances are established, is will not be able to be corrected. Belarusian human rights activists have expressed their concern over the upcoming execution.

19.10.2009 Psychiatric abuse in action

The Hanchar family of the town of Krasnapolle, Mahiliou region, has called upon Belarusian human rights activists and independent journalists to help protect their under-age daughter from psychiatry abuse, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. The Hanchars claim that their daughter Liudmila is about to be hospitalized by order of local police. According to Liudmila’s elder sister Volha, two policemen accompanied by a psychiatrist paid a visit to the family’s apartment to hospitalize the girl, claiming that she needed immediate medical intervention due to ‘severe mental disorder’, cause by a school incident a year ago, when the girl was badly beaten by her classmates.

19.10.2009 Maxim Vinyarski: “Detention in Akrestsin Street prison is torture”

Activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Maxim Vinyarski has spent 2 days in prison for dissemination of information about political prisoners.

He told about incarceration conditions to “European Belarus” website.

“Incarceration conditions are very difficult. It was extremely cold. Maybe for the sake of reforming inmates, windows in the corridors were opened as well, and it created a draught. Heating was not on. Such a detention is a torture. They treated me boorishly. Not only me, but all the detained. Prison administration acquaints all those who arrive with the rules and demand to stick to them without fail.

19.10.2009 Lyabedzka demands bring Minsk riot militiamen to criminal responsibility

The head of the United Civil Party referred to Prosecutor General of Belarus Ryhor Vasilevich.

Anatol Lyabedzka demands to organize investigation over the facts of unlawful actions of law enforcement officers and bring them to criminal responsibility, BelaPAN reports.

A ground for the appeal was forceful dispersal of a picket of solidarity held on October square of Minsk on October 16.

Anatol Lyabedzka was beaten up by militia officers during dispersal of the rally and guarding the detained to the Tsentralny district militia department.

19.10.2009 Action of solidarity dispersed brutally

The picket of solidarity in Minsk has been dispersed unprecedentedly brutally. 30 oppositionists were beaten up and arrested. Journalists were beaten as well, militia didn’t let them film this brutality.

More than a hundred of riot militiamen were thrown against the people, who came to October square in Minsk on Solidarity Day on October 16. No sooner had the protesters unfurled portrait of the political prisoners, they were beaten. A part of demonstrators sat on the ground in protest, they were beaten at first, and then forced into buses with the rest. It took only some minutes to arrest the demonstrators.

19.10.2009 New Gross Violations of Journalists’ Rights in Minsk

Journalists who were covering a street Solidarity Action in the center of Minsk were roughly prevented from fulfilling their professional duties.

Police officers did not allow journalists to make pictures of the action. According to reporters, the police acted even rougher than during the similar events of 9 and 16 September. Each photo and video journalist had several officers in plain clothes who tried to prevent reporters from filming the action.

19.10.2009 Manager of Printing House Suits Non-State Newspaper

Andrei Zavatski, the director of Barysau printing house, appealed against Borisovskie Novosti non-state newspaper and its journalist Anatol Mazhou with a suit on defending honor, dignity and business reputation.

The reason for the suit is an article called "Director’s Eccentricity or Adherence to Labour Law?" published by Borisovskie Novosti 7 October 2009.

The article is based on an anonymous letter sent to the editorial board by one of employees of the printing house. The author of the letter complained the director of the printing house Andrei Zavatski broke labour laws. Anatol Mazhou asked Mr. Zavatski to comment the letter, added comments by other employees and by an independent lawyer.

16.10.2009 Activists stand trial in Homel

On 16 October, several trials took place in Homel, following the charges brought against a number of local activists for participating in the 16 September Hanchar and Krasouski memorial demonstration. Judge Vital Kozyrau of Homel Chyhunachny Court has convicted oppositional Communist activist Uladzimer Siakerka of taking part in an illegal rally and despite ample evidence in favour of the activist fined him BYR 700,000. Another opposition activist – BPF member Anatol Paplauny asked the judge to sentence him to imprisonment, since he ‘did not want to support the broke anti-national regime with his own money.’

16.10.2009 Foreign Ministry ignores conclusions by UN HR Committee

Baranavichy human rights activist Siarhei Housha has received a reply to his inquiry lodged with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the officials to provide explanations for the Ministry’s non-compliance with the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee of 27 July 2007, ordering the Belarusian authorities to rehabilitate Mr.Housha’s right to the freedom of association, as one of the founders of the Viasna human rights center, closed down by order of court in 2003.

16.10.2009 Young leader Maxim Vinyarski sentenced to 2 days of arrest

An activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” handed out leaflets with information abut political prisoners.

The activist was detained on October 15 near “Maladzyovaya” metro station. From the police department of the metro he was taken to the court of Frunzenski district. The oppositionist was found guilty of violation of the Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code – violation of the order of holding mass events, and sentenced to two days of administrative arrest.

16.10.2009 Russian national at large

Andrei Ozharovsky, Russian atomic physicist, has been released from Astravets town prison, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. The scientist was arrested on 9 October during public hearings on the projected construction of a nuclear power plant outside the town, where Mr.Ozharovsky was to present his report on the issue criticizing the project. He was later convicted of ‘disorderly conduct’ and sentenced to 7 days of imprisonment.

15.10.2009 ‘Santa Clauses’ surrender to prosecutor’s office on grounds of Article 193.1

Members of the liquidated Human Rights Center Viasna were among those who took part in the procession of Santa Clauses to the office of the prosecutor general of Belarus. By this unusual representatives of many unregistered civil associations wanted to remind the authorities about Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code that envisages criminal persecution for activities on behalf of unregistered organizations.

15.10.2009 Police detained activist of ‘European Belarus’ Maksim Viniarski

On 14 October the police officers of Minsk metro detained near Maladziozhnaya station the activist of the European Belarus Maksim Viniarski who was handing out informational materials with the demand to release political prisoners.

15.10.2009 Baranavichy: human rights defenders apply to prosecutor’s office

The human rights defenders of Baranavichy seek to stop the disgraceful practice of banning mass actions by the local authorities. Siarhei Housha, Karnei Piatrovich and Viktar Syrytsa prepared an address to the prosecutor’s office of Baranavichy district concerning the ban of a picket to them.

15.10.2009 Uladzimir Katsora demands to punish police perjurers

On 14 October the head of Homel branch of the For Freedom movement Uladzimir Katsora addressed Homel oblast prosecutor’s office with the demand to instigate a criminal case against the police officers who had drawn up on him deceitful reports following his detention on 16 September. Later Katsora and some other democratic activists of Homel were fined by court on the basis of these documents.