The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 15 Feb 2011

15.02.2011 Council of Europe Secretary General calls Belarus to adopt an immediate moratorium on executions

‘I am deeply disappointed and concerned by the decision taken on Friday by the Supreme Court of Belarus to confirm yet another death sentence in the country,’ said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland.

15.02.2011 President of EU Parliament urges Belarusian authorities to release Andrei Pachobut

The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, called on the Belarusian authorities to free Andrei Pachobut, a Gazeta Wyborcza correspondent and a member of the Union of Poles in Belarus.

15.02.2011 Nasta Loika spent 15 minutes at military counter-intelligence

After receiving many telephone calls from an investigator of the military counter-intelligence, human rights defender Nasta Loika agreed to come for a talk on 15 Febraury. Though the investigator said he would pass her an official writ after her coming to his office, he didn't keep his promise.

15.02.2011 Students are forced to sign statement condemning EU sanctions

The statement points that students stood against the sanctions which were prepared with the participation of the Belarusian opposition. 'Oppositionists were often guided not by the interests of the Belarusian people, but by their own ones. We are convinced that these people satisfy their ambitions at the expense of discredit of their home land. Moreover, we sincerely regret that the image of the Republic of Belarus is formed only on the basis of words of the persons who aren't known, trusted and respected in our country,' reads the document.

15.02.2011 Hrodna: search at Mikola Lemianouski's apartment

On 14 February the police searched the apartment of a member of the Belarusian Popular Front Mikola Lemianouski. The search was connected to the recent detention of his daughter, Veranika, who had been allegedly posting leaflets together with another young activist, Nadzeya Krapivina.

15.02.2011 Vadzim Kabanchuk sentenced to 10 days of arrest

In the morning of 15 February Vadzim's mother, Taisiya Kabanchuk, was waiting for him at the Maskouski District Court of Minsk, where he was to have been taken for a trial. His friends phoned to all Minsk courts trying to find about the time and place of the trial. Only in the afternoon they were informed that the trial had already taken place, Vadzim had been sentenced to 10 days of arrest for participation in the 19 December protest action in central Minsk, and guarded to the delinquents' isolation center in Akrestsin Street.

15.02.2011 Official warning instead of flowers

On 19 December Tatsiana Shambalava, an electioneering agent of Vital Rymasheuski, was detained at the protest action in central Minsk and sentenced to 10 days of arrest. She kept a hunger-strike during the whole arrest term. However, after her release she was required to pay for 'getting meals three times a day at the expense of the state'.

15.02.2011 Professor Heorhi Lepin 'questioned as witness'

On 14 February Professor Heorhi Lepin, detained during the protest action of 19 December in Minsk, came to the Kastrychnitski District Police Department of Minsk.

15.02.2011 Young Front activist Zmitser Yasevich summonsed for interrogation

Representatives of the KGB called Zmitser Yasevich several days ago and invited him for a conversation. Zmitser refused to go there without an official summon, RFE/RL informs.