16.05.2011 Barysau organization of United Civil Party appeals December search

The organization applied to the Minsk Region Procuracy with the request to check the legality of the warrant of the senior investigator of the Minsk City and Region KGB Department, justice captain A.Darashevich for searching the office of the Barysau town UCP organizatioin, and the legality of actions of the policemen who had conducted the search.

16.05.2011 Procuracy wants to interrogate Ivan Shyla concerning the terrorist act in the Minsk metro

Uladzimir Shyla, father of the young activist, was informed about it by Ihar Masliak, investigator of especially important cases in the Minsk region. On 11 May the investigator phoned to the Shylas and asked about the whereabouts of the elder of the Shyla brothers, Ivan. However, he refused to tell the reasons for his interest. Though it is not a secret that Ivan studies in Poland, the investigator was very eager to receive a written confirmation from the parents.

16.05.2011 Homel: opposition activist Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh detained

The oppositionist was detained in the centrer of Homel and guarded to the Tsentralny District Police Department. He managed to tell Vasil Paliakou, Chair of the Homel regional organization of the United Civil Party, about his detention.The oppositionist was detained in the centrer of Homel and guarded to the Tsentralny District Police Department. He managed to tell Vasil Paliakou, Chair of the Homel regional organization of the United Civil Party, about his detention.

During the detention Mr. Niapomniashchykh was wearing a badge I 'll buy instable currency and a T-shirt with the inscription For Belarus without Lukashenka.

Procuracy wants to interrogate Ivan Shyla concerning the terrorist act in the Minsk metro

Uladzimir Shyla, father of the young activist, was informed about it by Ihar Masliak, investigator of especially important cases in the Minsk region. On 11 May the investigator phoned to the Shylas and asked about the whereabouts of the elder of the Shyla brothers, Ivan. However, he refused to tell the reasons for his interest. Though it is not a secret that Ivan studies in Poland, the investigator was very eager to receive a written confirmation from the parents.

On 12 May Masliak came to their home and told that the investigation was looking for Ivan Shyla in connection with the blast in the Minsk metro. At first he wanted to force the father to give a non-disclosure undertaking. However, he failed to determine Uladzimir's status in the case, and therefore had to refuse from his plan.

The investigator also said that the procuracy may send a request for interrogation of Ivan Shyla by the Polish police.

“The procuracy also wants Ivan to come to them on his arrival in Belarus. I promised to ask him about it, if the investigator guarantees that my son won't be detained on the border because of “staging a fight”, as it has happened to another political draftee, Ales Kalita, who also served in the same military unit with my son and the suspect in the terrorist act.”

It's worth mentioning that this day the parents also received a summons to the Salihorsk District Procuracy. However, the status of their son and the case on which they were summonsed weren't specified. It may seem unimportant to someone, but this fact puts to doubt the whole investigation into the terrorist act in the Minsk metro, as officers of the procuracy can hardly investigate such a case properly if they are unable even to exercise standard documents in conformity with the legal standards.

Human Rights Chronicle

16.05.2011 Andrei Sannikau was tortured and threatened in KGB prison

On 13 May the trial of Andrei Sannikau, a presidential candidate, continued at the Partyzanski District Court of Minsk. The defendant told about threats of the KGB Chairman Zaitsau (Zajtsev) and about tortures in the KGB remand prison.

16.05.2011 Bitter Winter in Belarus

The FIDH 7-minute film Bitter Winter in Belarus denounces the violent repression exercised by the Belarus authorities against all the dissident voices that have protested against the rigging of the December 19, 2010 presidential elections.