The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for October 2011

07.10.2011 Orsha: all policemen are away at dance parties

As it follows from the answer given to Orsha human rights defenders Vasil Berasneu and Vasil Leuchankau by Anatol Silchanka, head of the Orsha District Police Department, the situation with police personnel in Orsha is catastrophic.

07.10.2011 Monkey business of Mazyr officials

Mazyr human rights defender Uladzimitr Tseliapun still hopes to hold a picket in support of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski. However, the local authorities try to invent different pretexts not to allow the action.

07.10.2011 Workers of “Mahilioukhimvalakno” are afraid to sign address of “Tell The Truth!”

According to Aliaksei Paulouski, workers of the state enterprise “Mahilioukhimvalakno” (“Mahiliou Chemical Tissue”) showed a positive attitude to the address asking the authorities to decrease the prices in the state shops by 20% (the percent by which the Belarusian ruble became stronger towards the US dollar according to the official information).

07.10.2011 Persecution of organizers of the People's Assembly continues all over Belarus

The Belarusian authorities continue pressurizing members of the organizing committee of the national People's Assembly which will take part in towns and cities of Belarus on 8 October.

07.10.2011 Minsk: detention of IISEPS director Aleh Manayeu

On 6 October Aleh Manayeu was arrested by special purpose troops near Peramoha Square in Minsk.

07.10.2011 Are defendants in the metro blast case beaten in prison?

Lawyers have attracted attention of the court that their clients have bruises and abrasions in the beginning of the preliminary investigation.

06.10.2011 Navapolatsk: Viktar Kalesnik is invited for “fingerprinting”

Civil activist Viktar Kalesnik is summonsed to the police on 7 October. He is sure that the real reason is his participation in the People's Assembly, which will take place on 8 October, not the dactilography. He has been detained many times already. His fingerprints were taken for the first time four years ago. The police also have his photo and video shots.

06.10.2011 Homel: court takes the side of city authorities

On 6 October Siarhei Shytsikau, Judge of the Tsentralny Distrift Court of Homel, turned down the appeal of human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka against the refusal of the Mahiliou City Executive Committee to authorize pickets in support of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, who is kept under arrest on criminal charges.

06.10.2011 Mahiliou: police question activist of “Tell the Truth!”

Andrei Dvihun, an activist of the civil movement “Tell the Truth!” was summonsed to the police following the detention of another activist Anton, who was throwing leaflets “Let's Save Belarus!” into postboxes in a multi-stored building.

06.10.2011 Organizers of People's Assembly are summonsed to General Procuracy

The co-chairmen of the organizing committee of the People's Assembly Henadz Fiadynich and Viktar Ivashkevich received summons to the General Procuracy for 11 a.m. on 6 October. The reasons are not known yet.

06.10.2011 Brest: Vadzim Rabtsevich detained

Vadzim Rabtsevich, an activist of the Belarusian Leftist Party “Fair World”, was detained for posting leaflets with information about the time and place of the People's Assembly in Brest. He managed to inform human rights defender Uladzimir Malei about the detention.

06.10.2011 Baranavichy: pardoned figurant of “19 December case” is under vigilant supervision

On 14 September Dzmitry Novik, a figurant of the criminal case concerning the events of 19 December 2010, was released by Lukashenka's pardon decree.

06.10.2011 Mahiliou authorities double the number of riot policemen

According to anonymous information from the police, the Mahiliou authorities intend to increase the number of riot policemen in the city by 150 people. In 2010, the battalion of the riot police consisted of about 200 people.

06.10.2011 Baranavichy: Zmitser Shurkhai put off the train

Zmitser Shurkhai, a coordinator of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, was put off a train in Baranavichy by police and security services.

06.10.2011 Baranavichy: Viktar Tsiapin gets fined

On 6 October the Baranavichy City and District Court considered the administrative case of Viktar Tsiapin, who was charged under Article 23.34 (“violation of the order of organizing or holding mass events”) for taking part in the organization of the People's Assembly. Judge Aksana Sarakhman found him guilty and sentenced him to a fine of 875,000 rubles.