The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for December 2011

16.12.2011 Partyzanski District Court: 54 + 2 million rubles to be exacted from Stefanovich

On 16 December the Partyzanski District Tax Inspection of Minsk increased the sum of the claim to Valiantsin Stefanovich to 53 million rubles. A representative of the tax inspection stated that the statement that earlier information about Stefanovich’s account in the Lithuanian bank SEB, provided by the Lithuanian authorities, is incomplete, mustn’t be taken into account, because it wasn’t specified what is incomplete.

16.12.2011 Vitsebsk prosecuting authorities warn local pro-dem activists ahead of 19 December rally

Vitsebsk pro-democratic activists Khrystafor Zhaliapau, Aliaksei Haurutsikau and Yan Dziarzhautsau have received official warnings issued by the Regional Prosecutor’s Office following their application for a demonstration to commemorate the 2010 post-election protest scheduled on 19 December 2011.

16.12.2011 EU expands sanctions against Belarus after Byalyatski's trial

The EU's press-center has informed that two officials who participated in the trial against HR defender Ales Byalyatski were included into the "black list".

16.12.2011 National Bolshevik activist Kontush fined on false evidence charges

The hooliganism case of activist of the National Bolsheviks Party Yauhen Kontysh has taken an unexpected turn after the youth was invited to Minsk Pershamaiski District Police Department for reported termination of the administrative prosecution, where he faced new charges for alleged giving false evidence, namely failure to state the names of his co-activists suspected of involvement in an action outside the Belarusian State TV office in Minsk on 3 December.

16.12.2011 BCD Brest activists to stand trial on foul language charges

Brest activists of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Zmitser Shurkhai and Ales Charkashyn are facing charges of using foul language in a public place following their arrest by road police on 15 December.

16.12.2011 Text message from colony: Mikalaj Autukhovich slashes his wrists

Radio Liberty's correspondent received a text message from Ivatsevichy colony No. 5 that the political prisoner had attempted to commit suicide.

16.12.2011 U.S. Senate approves "Democracy and Human Rights Act in Belarus"

The draft bill prescribes support of democracy and human rights in our country.

16.12.2011 Uladzislau Kavalyou's mother and sister send appeal to UN

Relatives of one of Minsk metro terrorist act convicts sent a note on breaking the right for living to the Committee on Human Rights on December 15.

15.12.2011 Valiantsin Stefanovich appeals against fine issued by tax inspection

On 2 December Maryiana Valchkova, Judge of the Partyzanski District Court of Minsk, left standing the ruling of the Partyzanski District Tax Inspection of Minsk of 19 October 2011, according to which human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich was fined 4,727,330 rubles for “the failure to mention the whole sum of taxable income through inattentiveness”.

15.12.2011 Mahiliou region: trials become closed

On 13 December Dzmitry Akulenka, Judge of the Leninski District Court of Mahiliou, didn’t let Aliaksei Yauhenau take part in a trial as a representative of the Independent Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry, and even expelled him from the court room. Relatives of the three people who had perished because of the break of a high-voltage wire in the Horki district were removed from the court room as well.

15.12.2011 Victims of metro blast aren’t issued with copies of court verdict

On 12 December Inesa Krutaya, a victim of the 11 April explosion in the Minsk metro, applied to the Supreme Court with the request to be issued with a copy of the verdict to the alleged perpetrators of the terrorist act, Dzmitry Kanavalau anad Uladzislau Kavaliou. However, she still hasn’t received any answer.

15.12.2011 Belarusian human rights defenders launch fundraising campaign to compensate damage in Bialiatski’s case

Belarusian human rights defenders launched a campaign to collect money for paying the “damage, done by the crime” which had been allegedly committed by Ales Bialiatski. It was stated at a special press-conference.

15.12.2011 Poznan students hold action in support of political prisoners in Belarus

An action of support to Belarusians who are kept in jail because of their political views was held on 14 December in Poznan (Poland). At the beginning of the action the names of the political prisoners were read out and 12 torches were lit. The organizers of the action reminded about the importance of the solidarity of Poles with the Belarusians who are persecuted for their oppositional activities.

15.12.2011 Mahiliou Region Court turns down observers’ appeal

On 14 December the Mahiliou Region Court turned down the appeal of Liudmila Kavylkina and Larysa Shukaila, observers of the election campaign “For Free Elections!” against the verdict of the Leninski District Court of Mahiliou.

15.12.2011 MIA answers address of Belarusian Association of Journalists

The Ministry of Internal Affairs answered the address of the Belarusian Association of Journalists concerning the impunity of crimes against journalists. The journalist organization asked the ministry to reopen the criminal case concerning the disappearance of Dzmitry Zavadski and the murder of Veranika Charkasava, and hold additional check-up on the deaths of Aleh Biabenin and Vasil Hrodnikau.