The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2011

21.03.2011 Dzmitry Daronin still awaiting charges

The detention of Dzmitry Daronin, arrested on 14 March as a suspect in the 19 December mass riot case, has been extended till 24 March.

21.03.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (March 14-20)

Politically motivated prosecutions have continued to gather pace: charges concerning the 19 December events were brought against another former presidential candidate Dzmitry Us, charges against another former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich were changed. Within the framework of the criminal case, law enforcement agencies continued carrying out interrogations and searches. Ales Mikhalevich left Belarus in fear of another arrest, following his release on recognizance. Human rights defenders encountered new harassment facts. Freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly were still considerably restricted. More detentions were reported. The existence of a “black list” was reported by the media: the authorities banned a number of concerts by Belarusian rock bands. Six artworks to be exhibited at the “Pahonia” art exhibition were rejected due to censorship.

21.03.2011 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in January 2011

The beginning of the year was marked with the ongoing repressions all over the country following the mass action which was held in the center of Minsk in the evening of 19 December to protest against rigging the results of the presidential election. Searches and interrogations at the KGB, sanctioned within the framework of the investigation into the criminal case under Article 293, "mass riot" continued non-stop in January. Criminal and administrative persecution was used not only towards participants of the peaceful action, but also towards representatives of the civil society and independent media, despite a wide international response and the demands of the EU and the US to urgently stop reprisals against citizens.

21.03.2011 Viasna protests against bans and censorship of musical bands

The Human Rights Center “Viasna” has released a statement protesting against the reimposure of anti-Constitutional practice of bans and censorship of musical bands and performers.

21.03.2011 Mahiliou and Homel authorities ban 25 March solidarity pickets

Mahiliou and Homel city executive committees dismissed applications for holding pickets of solidarity with political prisoners scheduled by local pro-democratic activists for 25 March.

21.03.2011 Ales Bialiatski’s appeal put in inspection file on Mikhalevich’s torture report

On 17 March, spokesman of the General Prosecutor’s Office told the media that the prosecuting authorities were inspecting the allegations of torture reported by former presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevich and a number of other KGB prisoners.

21.03.2011 BPF Mahiliou leader questioned by counterintelligence

On 19 March, Zmitser Salauyou, chair of the Belarusian Popular Front’ Mahiliou regional office, was interrogated by Minsk department of military counterintelligence as a witness in the 19 December 2010 mass riot criminal case.

18.03.2011 Minsk Executive Committee allows Freedom Day action in Bangalore Square

The organizers of the action do not want to go there; they had been planning to gather people in Yakub Kolas Square.

18.03.2011 Dzmіtry Us: Accusation of armed resistance is cynical

Former presidential candidate Dzmitry Us is going to appeal the today’s accusation of organization of mass disorders.

18.03.2011 Alyaksandr Atroshchankau asks to send him to colony

The press sectary has written the appeal for a transfer to jail to serve his sentence connected with Dec.19 case without waiting for the cassation result.

18.03.2011 Ales Bialiatski visiting Tunisia as international expert in transition to democracy conference

On 17-19 March the Tunisia capital hosted an international conference “Transition to Democracy in Tunisia”, visited by representatives of the country’s civil society, trade unions and mass media, as well as a number of international experts, including Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights Ales Bialiatski.

18.03.2011 Belarus representatives duck dialogue at UN Human Rights Council

On 14 March, the 16th session of the UN Human Rights Council adopted a joint statement on the situation in Belarus, which was signed by 45 countries, including all the EU members. The statement calls the Belarusian authorities and President Aliaksandr Lukashenka in particular to promptly and unconditionally release and rehabilitate all the persons arrested on political grounds after the 19 December 2010 election.

18.03.2011 Prosecuting authorities still unable to establish who broke Yan Lahvinovich’s arm

Three months have passed since Maladechna resident Yan Lahvinovich was badly beaten during the 19 December post-election rally. As a result, his arm was broken, however, the prosecuting authorities have not yet been able to find out who broke his arm.

18.03.2011 Former presidential candidates Dzmitry Us and Mikalai Statkevich officially charged

Former presidential candidates Dzmitry Us and Mikalai Statkevich have been officially charged under Par. 1 Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (organization of mass riots), reports the www.interfax.by web-site, quoting Interior Ministry spokesperson Kanstantsin Shalkevich.