The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for October 2011

06.10.2011 Authorities organize fairs and sportive events to block People's Assembly

The People's Assembly in Babruisk will be held near the shopping house “Vesta”. Everybody knows about it, including the authorities, as one of its organizers, Viktar Buzinayeu, sent invitations to this action to police officers and local officials.

06.10.2011 Search at Minsk Automobile Plant

Security guards of the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) were looking for leaflets with information about the People’s Assembly.

06.10.2011 Homel: police detain silent protesters

On 5 October three participants of the silent protest rally were detained in Homel. The rally was held in the city despite of the pause in rallies announced by their organizers.

06.10.2011 Yan Melnikau sentenced to 5 days of arrest for handing out leaflets

On 5 October Yan Melnikau was detained while handing out leaflets with invitations to the People's Assembly at the check-point of the Minsk Automobile Plant. Today he has been sentenced to 5 days of arrest under Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, “violation of the order of organizing and holding mass events”, though norms of the Law “On Mass Events” don't concern people's assemblies, which are regulated by the Law “On National and Local Assemblies”.

05.10.2011 Human rights defenders recognize Alinevich, Dziadok and Frankevich political prisoners

Human Rights Center "Viasna" and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee recognized Ihar Alinevich, Mikalai Dziadok and Aliaksandr Frantskevich as political prisoners of the present regime. The human rights defenders came to this conclusion on the basis of analysis of the so-called “Case of Anarchists”.

05.10.2011 Procuracy justifies beating of prisoners in Ivatsevichy colony

The Brest region procuracy gave an answer to the informational-educational institution “Platform”, headed by Andrei Bandarenka. The organization asked to hold a check-up on the beating of some prisoners in the Ivatsevichy colony, including Ramiz Mamedau.

05.10.2011 FIDH and Viasna: Inhumane treatment and threats to the lives of Belarusian political prisoners must stop!

Paris-Minsk, 4 October 2011 – International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisation in Belarus, Human Rights Center “Viasna”, strongly condemn the inhuman treatment of political prisoners in Belarusian prisons. Reliable sources indicate that psychological and physical pressure continues on political prisoners still in detention in Belarus, including death threats, unjustified transfers and appalling health care provision.

05.10.2011 Autukhovich is also persuaded to sign pardon petition

According to human rights defender Aleh Volchak, Mikalai Autukhovich is subject to a continuous pressurization, like all other political prisoners. By the way, on 8 September he served a half of his prison term, which means that the prison administration could ask the court to mitigate the punishment and change it to personal restraint, home arrest, etc.

05.10.2011 Hrodna: political leaders are summonsed to procuracy in connection with People's Assembly

On 4 October Yury Istomin, chairman of the Hrodna regional organization of the United Civil Party, informed us about receiving a telephone call from the Hrodna procuracy. Prosecutor Karavayeu told him to come to the procuracy for familiarizing with a warning about responsibility for possible unauthorized actions.

05.10.2011 Five days of arrest for invitation to People's Assembly

Liavontsi Chypurnykh, deputy chairman of the Brest city branch of the Belarusian Leftist Party “Fair World” was sentenced to 5 days of arrest for handing out invitations to the People's Assembly which will take place on 8 October.

05.10.2011 State-owned newspaper refuses to print ad of UCP branch

Aliaksandr Kabanau, new chairman of the Biaroza district branch of the United Civil Party, decided to publish an advertisement in the district state-owned newspaper “Mayak” in order to inform citizens about the establishment of the branch and its legal address.

05.10.2011 Brest authorities ban trade-union picket

As, said by Valiantsin Lazarenkau, head of the Brest branch of the Free Trade Union, the picket, planned on 7 October – the World Day of defending the right for decent work, was prohibited by the city executive committee. The reason is that the applicants hadn't concluded agreements with the communal services, police and doctors, as prescribed by the executive committee's decisions.

05.10.2011 Organizing committee of 29 people nominates Ales Bialiatski for Nobel Peace Prize

A specially created organizational committee nominates Ales Bialiatski for Nobel Peace Prize. It includes 29 people. Among them there are Belarusian activists Aliaksandr Milinkevich (movement "For Freedom!") and Zhanna Litvina ("Belarusian Association of Journalits"), Russian human rights defender Liudmila Aliakseyeva, President of the International Human Rights Federation Souhayr Belhassen, executive director of the non-governmental organization “Freedom House” David Kramer, President of the Belarusian People Republic's Council Ivonka Survilla and other famous persons.

05.10.2011 Ten members of BPF Council summonsed for interrogation

Ten members of the Council of the BPF party were summoned to the Tsentralny district police department for questioning.

05.10.2011 No career prospects for non-partisans?

Ideologists in regions intimidate people with the People’s Assembly, the “all-seeing” eye of the KGB and inability to get a promotion without joining Belaya Rus organization.