The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2012

13.03.2012 Brest: correspondent of Radio "Racyja" summonsed to procuracy

Another journalist is summonsed to the Brest Regional Procuracy. This time it's Zmitser Kisel.

13.03.2012 Barysau: Ihar Askerka sentenced to 10 days of arrest

Ihar Askerka, the son of activist Anatoly Askerka, was tried today in Barysau. Anatol was arrested earlier for an action to support political prisoner Andrei Sannikau.

13.03.2012 Swedish journalists detained in Minsk

A Swedish TV crew was detained in Minsk at about 6 p.m. on 12 March. Police also detained a Belarusian correspondent of Russian News Service radio, Uladzimir Chudziantsou, and a member of the Belarusian Journalists Association (BAJ), Illia Kuzniatsou, who were accompanying a crew of Sveriges Television (cameraman Sven Bergmann, correspondent Olav Christopherson and producer Isabelle Somerfeld).

12.03.2012 Mahiliou: workers of bread-baking plant demand higher wages

Workers of Mahiliou bread-baking plant #4 demand an increase of wages. "We managed to collect only 22 signatures under our petition to the director with the requirement to raise workers' wages, when the administration of the plant found about it and started phoning to all signers, threatening with retaliation,” says a worker of the plant. Some of the workers revoked their signatures as a result of such pressurization.

12.03.2012 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in February 2012

In February, the absence of positive developments in the field of human rights, especially the unresolved issue of political prisoners was in the center of political relations between the EU and the Belarusian authorities.

12.03.2012 Preventive supervision can be established over Uladzimir Yaromenak

On 11 March the Leninski District Court of Mijnsk found "Young Front" activist Uladzimir Yaromenak guilty under Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Violations (violation of the rules of holding mass events) and sentenced him to 15 days of arrest for participation in a performance near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, during which unknown youngsters had thrown rolls of toilet paper at the ministry's building.

12.03.2012 Belarusian authorities make oral statement on Bialiatski's case at UN Human Rights Council

On 5 March the discussion of the yearly report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders took place at the UN Human Rights Council.

12.03.2012 Black list in action: Valiantsin Stefanovich not let abroad

On 11 March the deputy head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Valiantsin Stefanovich didn't manage to come to Lithuania. He was stopped by border guards at the crossing point "Kamenny Loh" and told that foreign travel restrictions were applied towards him.

12.03.2012 Brest: Dzianis Turchaniak sues regional officials

The Brest coordinator of the movement "For Freedom" Dzianis Turchaniak filed a lawsuit against the Brest Regional Executive Committee which refuses to inform him about the planned construction of a hotel in the historical center of Brest.

12.03.2012 Barysau: Soviet of Ministers forwards Aleh Matskevich's appeal to Ministry of Health Care

The Barysau human rights defender Aleh Matskevich received an "answer" to his appeal to the Soviet of Ministry concerning the unconstitutionality of the proposal of the deputy prime minister Anatol Tozik to introduce a 5,000-fee for visits to Belarusian polyclinics.

12.03.2012 Antol Askerka's son gets detained

On 11 March Barysau police detained activist of "European Belarus" Ihar Askerka who was holding a picket of solidarity with his father, sentenced to 15 days of arrest for holding an action of solidarity with political prisoner Andrei Sannikau.

12.03.2012 Liozna: "Dazhynki" festival held at the cost of tax-payers

Activist of the civil campaign "Our House" Mikalai Petryshenka applied to the Vitsebsk Regional Prouracy in connection with a publication in the Liozna district state-owned newspaper "Stsiah Peramohi" where the head of the local public utilities Aliaksandr Karneichyk explained that "the budge means which are issued this year – more than 576 million rubles, will be spent on paying the debts to the organizations which worked in the district during the preparation of the festival-fair for village workers "Dazhynki-2011".

12.03.2012 "Cleaning" at old Jewish cemetery

These days workers of the the village cooperative "Halynka" are "cleaning" the old Jewish cemetery in the village of Dziarechyn in the Zelva district. They cut down old trees which fall down on monuments and graves, without paying any attention to the harm which is done as a result.

12.03.2012 Navapolatsk: Dzmitry Ryzhychenka sues "Vector-TV"

Dzmitry Ryzhychenka filed a lawsuit against the TV company "Vector-TV" with the Navapolatsk City Court. The plaintiff believes that the report concerning actions of an "ultra-right youth group", broadcast by the TV channel on 24 February, insults his honor and dignity and contains libel.

12.03.2012 Barysau: detained activists sentenced to arrest

On 10 March Herasimovich, Judge of the Barysau District Court, considered the administrative cases against Anatol Askerka and Ivan Shutko and sentenced them to 15 and 10 days of arrest for participation in an unauthorized mass action.