The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for May 2012

15.05.2012 Court rejects Liabedzka’s lawsuit against KGB

Judge of the Tsentralny District Court of Minsk Alena Siamak refused to consider the lawsuit of Anatol Liabedzka against KGB. Since April 2011, the politician has been trying to get back the notebook and money which had been confiscated from him during a search.

15.05.2012 Front Line Defenders protests against travel ban to human rights defenders

The international foundation for the protection of human rights defenders Front Line Defenders issued a protest statement concerning the unlawful travel ban to Aleh Hulak, Hary Pahaniaila and Valiantsin Stefanovich.

15.05.2012 Hrodna: civil activists vs. city authorities

Hearings on a lawsuit of civil activists against Hrodna authorities have started at the Leninski District Court of Hrodna.

15.05.2012 Police questioned Vitsebsk activist Alena Semenchukova

Activist of the "European Belarus" Alena Semenchukova was questioned about hanging out a white-red-white flag on the roof of the building of the medical university.

15.05.2012 KGB: unsuccessful attempt to recruit poet Aleh Nahorny

KGB officers undertook an unsuccessful attempt to recruit Aleh Nahorny with the assistance of the Zavadski District Police Department of Minsk.

15.05.2012 Judges don't know powers of their courts

Baranavichy entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus applied to the Brest Regional Court with the request to abolish the verdict of the verdict of the Baranavichy City Court, according to which the latter allegedly had no powers to consider the case concerning the illegality of the election of the Council of the local market, and returned the case for the second trial.

15.05.2012 "Young Front" activists: detained, beaten, sentenced to arrest

On 14 May the apartment rented by the "Young Front" activists Mikalai Dzemidzenka, Zmitser Kremianetski and Raman Vasiliieu was assaulted by the riot police. The activists were beaten, detained and taken away in an unknown direction.

15.05.2012 Belarusian customs officers seize laptop from Danish journalist

On 12 May customs officers at Minsk-2 airport carried out a 4-hour examination of a Danish journalist Jens Nilsen.

15.05.2012 Anatol Liabedzka may face property confication for a paid fine

The leader of the United Civil Party paid 350,000 rubles of fine on the judgement of the court of Orsha, but he is still considered a debtor.

14.05.2012 UN Human Rights Committee granted appeal of Siarhei Beliazeka

The UN Human Rights Committee considered the appeal of Vitsebsk activist Siarhei Beyazeka against unlawful actions of the police and a court verdict for more than four years.

14.05.2012 Police burst into apartment of “Young Front” activists

Riot police burst into an apartment rented by “Young Front” activists Mikola Dzemidzenka, Zmitser Kramianetski and Raman Vasiliieu. The youngsters were detained and taken away in unknown direction. The keys from the apartment were taken away as well.

14.05.2012 Pickets "For fair elections without Lukashenka" are banned all over Belarus

The appropriate campaign was launched by the United Civil Party. Such pickets were banned in Babruisk, Barysau, Brest and Mahiliou. The organizers wanted to hold the actions in busy places in order to attract the attention of the population. However, they were usually answered that the pickets could be held only in the places that had been officially determined for such actions.

14.05.2012 Siarhei Trukhanovich fined 1 mln rubles

On 11 May the hearing of the administrative case of activist Ihar Trukhanovich was held in the Tsentralny District Court in Minsk.

14.05.2012 Mikhail Muski arrested for 5 days more

On 11 May "Young Front" activist Mikhail Muski was to have been released from jail after serving 15-day arrest term. However, instead he was taken to the Maskouski District Court of Minsk and sentenced to 5 days arrest for "disorderly conduct" (Article 17.1 of the Code of Administrative Violations) by Judge Viktar Kazak. Testimonies were given by police officers A. Davidziuk and S. Savuhin. According to the detention report, he was detained near "Altair" shop.

14.05.2012 Siarhei Kavalenka on hunger-strike again

Activists of the Conservative-Christian Party Belarusian Popular Front Siarhei Kavalenka resumed his hunger-strike of protest against the unlawful prison sentence. At present he demands not only a review of his case, but the liberation of political prisoners and the removal of all bans on national symbols.