The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 11 Nov 2011

11.11.2011 Vitsebsk: Iryna Yaskevich refuses to accept “police guests”

Iryna Yaskevich, an organizer of the 8 October People’s Assembly in Vitsebsk, received a telephone call from the police. They wanted to come to her home in order to draw up a new violation report against her.

11.11.2011 Slonim: workers aren't allowed to establish a free trade union organization

About 20 workers of a workshop of the Slonim cardboard and paper plant “Albiartsin” wrote applications for leaving the official Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus. They decided to create a unit of the Free Trade Union. The reason for such a decision is the failure of the state trade union to solve their problems.

11.11.2011 Vitsebsk: Barys Khamaida detained to be warned

Barys Khamaida, a well-known distributor of independent press in Vitsebsk, was detained in his usual place, near house #28 in Lenin Street. Policemen stated the administration of the Chyhunachny District Police Department wanted to talk to him.

11.11.2011 Slonim: democratic activists oppose cutting of woodland park as well

Association of the democratic forces of Slonim has filed a collective address with the Slonim District Executive Committee concerning ruling #536 of the Hrodna Region Executive Committee of 29 July 2011, sanctioning the cutting of the woodland park in the Albiartsin suburb with the aim to clear plots of land (first of all, for wealthy people and state officials). The woodland was divided into parts and marks were put on the trees which would be cut down.

11.11.2011 Zinaida Mikhniuk fined 70,000 rubles

On 11 November the Maskouski District Court of Brest considered the criminal case against Zinaida Mikhniuk, who had been detained on 8 October, the day when the People's Assembly was held.

11.11.2011 Babruisk: organizer of People's Assembly sentenced to three days of arrest

The Babruisk City Court sentenced Kanstantsin Loktseu, Chairman of the organizing committee of the People's Assembly in Babruisk, to three days of arrest. Judge Natallia Sheheda found him guilty of participation in the “unauthorized action held on 8 October” (the previous People's Assembly).

11.11.2011 Vitsebsk Region Court again upholds ban on pickets

On 10 November the Vitsebsk Region Court considered the cassation appeal of human rights defender Leanid Svetsik against the verdict of the Chairman of the Chyhunachny District Court of Vitsebsk, Raman Dziahoda, upholding the verdict of the Chyhunachny District Court by which a picket ban issued to Mr. Svetsik by the Vitsebsk Chyhunachny District Executive Committee had been declared lawful.

11.11.2011 Maladechna: workers are threatened with dismissal for taking part in People's Assembly

The head of the sawing plant “Yunona”, Uladzimir Ivanou, warned its workers that they were banned from coming to the central square of Maladechna on Saturday, and they would be fired on Monday if they disobeyed. Many workers were surprised at such a ban, but nobody explained anything to them.

11.11.2011 Baranavichy: organizers of People's Assembly get fined

On 11 November the Baranavichy District and City Court finished considering the administrative cases against Viktar Meziak and Viktar Syrytsa, who were charged under Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (violations of the order of conduct of mass events) for holding a People's Assembly on 8 October.

11.11.2011 Baranavichy: will they let him breathe deep?

As it follows from letter #722 of the Baranavichy District Executive Committee, dated 9 November 2011 and signed by the first Deputy Chairman, M. Paluyan, entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus is not allowed to hold a foot-race in the village of Vialikaya Kaupenitsa.

11.11.2011 Hrodna: search at Maksim Hubarevich'a apartment

In the evening of 10 November a search was conducted at the residential address of a member of the BPF Council, Maksim Hubarevich. The search was conducted in his absence and came to an end before his arrival. Nothing was taken away as a result.

11.11.2011 Vitsebsk: Aliaksandr Kirylau detained and beaten

Aliaksandr Kirylau, Chairman of the Vitsebsk branch of the Belarusian Conservative Party “Belaya Rus”, which is being created by the ex-presidential candidate Siarhei Ryzhou, was detained in the local employment center, where he was registered as an unemployed. He still cannot find a job, though he has a number of qualifications: economist, accountant, insurance agent and hairdresser. Being an orphan, Aliaksandr Kirylau has no means for life.

11.11.2011 Hrodna: it takes court just ten seconds!

That's how much time Mikalai Rachynski, Chairman of the Hrodna Region Court, needed to turn down the appeal of civil activist Ales Masiuk against the verdict of the Slonim District Court according to which he had been sentenced to pay a fine of 175,000 rubles for taking part in the People's Assembly in Slonim on 8 October.

11.11.2011 Homel: Vasil Paliakou goes on hunger-strike

Vasil Paliakou, the head of the organizing committee of People’s Assembly in Homel, has gone on hunger strike in a temporary detention facility in Homel. BelaPAN news agency learnt this from human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka.

11.11.2011 ARTICLE 19, Index on Censorship and English PEN: charges against Bialiatski are politically motivated

ARTICLE 19, Index on Censorship and English PEN consider the charges brought against Ales Bialiatski politically motivated and initiated to paralyse the activities of the already decimated human rights community in Belarus.