The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for May 2011

16.05.2011 Hrodna runaway journalist speaks on porno-peddling case

Hrodna journalist Aliaksei Salei, currently in Poland after Belarus police initiated criminal proceedings for alleged porno-peddling, released a statement on the criminal case against him after he refused to testify against Andrzej Poczobut.

16.05.2011 Ales Kalita interrogated in Minsk terrorist act case

On Monday morning an activist of the Belarusian Popular Front Ales Kalita was called in for questioning to the prosecutor’s office of Mahilyou.

16.05.2011 "European Belarus" activist Aliaksandr Kudlaeu and his son detained

After the search he was detained together with his son Ihar and delivered to the Moscow district department of internal affairs. The reasons for detention are unknown yet. The circumstances are being clarified, the human rights center "Viasna" informs.

16.05.2011 Young Front deputy leader sentenced to 15 days of arrest

Minsk Partyzanski District Court sentenced Mikola Dzemidzenka, deputy chair of the Young Front youth opposition movement, to 15 days of administrative arrest for attempting to use a white-red-white flag back on 14 May, when he was detained outside Minsk Maskouski bus terminal.

16.05.2011 Lithuanian Seimas hosts Viasna’s anniversary exhibition

On 13 May, the Lithuanian Parliament opened an exhibition dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”.

16.05.2011 Verdicts to Iryna Khalip, Pavel Seviarynets, Siarhei Martseleu

Judge Mrs. Zhana Brysina of Minsk Zavodski District Court found Iryna Khalip, Pavel Seviarynets and Siarhei Martseleu of committing an offence under Par. 1 Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (“organizing and preparation of actions that grossly violate the public order, or active participation in them”).

16.05.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (9-15 May)

A record number (27 persons) of participants of the 19 December 2010 events stood trials last week. The first verdict on charges of organizing mass riots was pronounced – former presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony. Other participants of the post-election protest who stood trial together with the politician were also convicted: Aleh Hnedchyk – 3.5 years, Illya Vasilevich, Fiodar Mirzayanau and Uladzimir Yaromenka – 3 years in a high-security prison each. Siarhei Kazakou, Vital Matsukevich, Yauhen Sakret and Uladzimir Loban were sentenced to three years in a high-security prison each, Dzmitry Daronin and Aleh Fedarkevich – 3.5 years each. Freedom of speech and association was still restricted, administrative pressure was used.

16.05.2011 Analytical review of the court proceedings on the criminal case of Daronin, Fedarkevich, Kazakou, Loban, Matsukevich and Sakret

The trial of the criminal case against Daronin, Fedarkevich, Kazakou, Matsukevich and Sakret took place on 5-11 March at the Maskouski District Court of Minsk. The case was tried by Judge Alena Shylko with participation of the state accuser Melnikau, Deputy Prosecutor of the Maskouski District of Minsk. The defendants were charged under Article 293, part 2 of the Criminal Code (direct participation in mass riot). On 12 May the court found them guilty under Article 293, part 2.

16.05.2011 Vileika: Valiantsin Susla fined for refusal from dactylography

On 13 May the Vileika District Court fined a local activist Valiantsin Susla 1,050,000 rubles for refusing to be fingerprinted, which was qualified as “insubordination to a legal order or demand or a public agent”.

16.05.2011 Vileika: court turned down appeal against ban of solidarity action

Yauhen Parchynski, an activist of Free Region, appealed the ban of the Freedom Day action, signed by Viachaslau Durnou, Deputy Chair of the Navapolatsk Town Executive Committee.

16.05.2011 Salihorsk: democratic activist Pavel Batuyeu summonsed for interrogation concerning knihi.net

On 12 May the Salihorsk democratic activist Pavel Batuyeu was summonsed to the department of financial investigations of the State Control Committee in connection with the investigation into the case of the website knihi.net.

16.05.2011 Orsha residents try to protect historical heritage

Orsha residents collect signatures for restoration of the cloister constructed at the end of the 18th century, one of the few historical objects which survived wars and vandal acts. However, recently its roof has fallen in, after which the state of the building is rapidly deteriorating.

16.05.2011 Deputy Chair of Barysau District Executive Committee disrupts seminar in Zhodzina

On 28 April the Zhodzina police took participants of the seminar on regional development to the Zhodzina Town Police Department and demanded written explanations. According to a Barysau democratic activist Siarhei Salash, the seminar was disrupted on order of Valiantsina Shutko, Deputy Chair of the Barysau District Executive Committee.

16.05.2011 Young Front activist Mikalai Dzemidzenka detained

On 14 May the police detained Mikalai Dzemidzenka, a Deputy Chair of the Young Front. It happened at about 2 p.m. near the Maskouski bus station, where he had an appointment.

16.05.2011 More verdicts to participants of 19 December protest rally. Presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau sentenced to 5 years in medium security colony

The Belarusian presidential candidate was sentenced for his protest against the falsified elections. The judgement was delivered by judge Natallia Chatsviartkova. Prosecutor Anton Zaharouski demanded to give Andrei Sannikau 7 years in a medium security penal colony.