The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2011

07.04.2011 Runaway youth activist works as builder in Russia to survive

Mikita Krasnou, former leader of the democratic organization Free Youth and one of the leaders of the Citizen campaign, has experienced the burden of this forced escape from Belarus. KGB searched the apartments of his parents, grandmother and girlfriend at the end of December and he was named as a suspect in the criminal case on “mass riot”. Then he decided to leave Belarus as soon as possible and left for Russia and then for Lithuania.

07.04.2011 Constitutional Court considers the correspondence of Pole’s card to international law

The appeal was sent to the Constitutional Court by the Belarusian MPs who discussed “the Polish issue” after the 19 December events. Bear in mind that Aliaksandr Lukashenka accused the official Warsaw of preparing a coup d'etat in Belarus after the election.

07.04.2011 Babruisk: Young Front member detained “on suspicion in theft”

Maksim Charniak, a Young Front member, was watched by KGB officers before the detention. He planned to report the details in the evening of 6 April.

06.04.2011 Chair of Homel United Civil Party to be tried for refusal to be fingerprinted

The Savetski District Police Department of Homel brought an administrative case under Article 23.4, insubordination to a lawful demand of a public agent, against Vasil Paliakou, Chair of the Homel city UCP organization.

06.04.2011 15 “police victims” won’t be dismissed from work

This is the answer given to Dzmitry Salauyou, Chair of the Mahiliou regional organization of the Belarusian Popular Front Adradzhenne by A.Lukomski, commander of the special mission police regiment of the Main Police Department of the Minsk City Executive Committee.

06.04.2011 Baranavichy: court dismisses complaint of human rights defender Siarhei Housha

The court of the town of Baranavichy and the Baranavichy district refused to consider the complaint of human rights defender Siarhei Housha against actions of officials of the Baranavichy KGB department. This is stated in the answer mailed to Mr. Housha by Judge Piatro Makadai.

06.04.2011 Investigator Sanko still considers meeting of Pavel Seviarynets as “inexpedient”

Investigator Ivan Sanko once again prohibited the political prisoner Pavel Seviarynets to meet with a priest. The appropriate request was filed on 30 March by Pavel’s mother, Tatsiana Seviarynets.

06.04.2011 Actions of solidarity with political prisoners near St. Symon and Alena Church

Policemen in mufti observe the rallies of solidarity near the Catholic church in Nezalezhnasts Square in Minsk every day.

06.04.2011 Russian citizen Artyom Breus is being squeezed out of Belarus

Artyom Breus is a son of a TV-host Yury Breus, who was famous in the past. Artyom was born in Minsk. He spent his childhood in Estonia, and returned to his homeland with the status of a Russian citizen. He was allowed to register in Belarus as a foreign citizen for a month first, and then the registration might have been renewed. However, after his conviction for the participation in the 19 December rally, the state made him realize that it did not need potential citizens like him.

05.04.2011 Ministry of Justice demands explanations from Belarusian Association of Journalists

The Ministry of Justice wants the BAJ to explain “the legal grounds for activity of the International Federation of Journalists on the territory of Belarus” and the grounds on which its press-cards s are issued by the Belarusian Association of Journalists. This is stated in the official letter of the ministry, dated 1 April and signed by A.Kirychenka, Chair of the NGOs department.

05.04.2011 Assembly of Belarusian NGOs speaks against deprival of Belarusian Popular Front of its Minsk office

Board Assembly Democratic NGOs of Belarus issued a statement to express its concern over the situation concerning the Minsk office of the Belarusian Popular Front opposition party. The matter is that the utility services of the Savetski district of Minsk refused to extend the rent agreement for the BPF office in Masherau Avenue, 8, occupied by the party for over 20 years.

05.04.2011 Public coalition for the EU-Belarus visa-free movement launched

A number of well-known Belarusian NGOs and think tanks have joined forces within a public VISA-FREE coalition. Assisted by partners from EU member states, Belarusians are going to advocate the idea of visa-free travel between Belarus and other European countries.

05.04.2011 Charges given to Pavel Vinahradau

On 5 April the preliminary investigation department of the Minsk City Executive Committee presented charges under Article 293, part 2 (participation in mass riot) and Article 370 (outrage of state symbols) to Pavel Vinahradau, a participant of the post-election rally of 19 December 2010.

05.04.2011 Sentences to Atroshchankau, Malchanau and Novik remain the same

The Minsk City Court left standing the sentences pronounced to Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, Aliaksandr Malchanau and Dzmitry Novik imprisoned for participation in the post-election protest action in Nezalezhnasts Square in central Minsk on 19 December 2010.

04.04.2011 Siarhei Kavalenka holds two protest hunger-strikes in a row

Siarhei Kavalenka, an activist of the Conservative-Christian Party Belarusian Popular Front, was detained for coming to the center of Vitsebsk with three white-red-white flags and chanting slogans on 25 March. He was charged with “disorderly conduct” and sentenced to 7 days of arrest.