Presentation of Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus

At 4 p.m. on 7 June Human Rights Center Viasna held the presentation of its yearly Chronicle-Review of Human Rights Violation in Belarus, issued in three languages. Viasna chairman Aliaksandr Bialiatski, its lawyer Valiantsin Stefanovich and human rights activist Valiery Shchukin took the floor at the presentation.

-- The book contradicts the deceitful quietness of Minsk streets, -- said Alies Bialiatski. – Actually, the volume of the Review-Chronicle for 2004 is 375 pages. It witnesses that human rights are violated and the situation is getting worse everyday.

The first Review-Chronicle was issued in 1999 and consisted of 39 pages. So, the negative dynamics of the situation of human rights is evident. The seventh review differs not only in its volume. In this year the composers decided to replace the topical principle with the chronologic one.

-- I think it is a good choice, -- said Alies Bialiatski. – Thanks to the chronologic principle one can find what and how happened each day of the previous year. Mr. Bialiatski also mentioned several reasons why the edition is important:

-- First of all, the chronicle of the regime’s crimes is necessary for trials on cases of unfair actions towards the country’s citizens. Secondly, it is a monument to those who fight this regime everyday. Real fates and real struggle stand behind those surnames, -- he said. Thirdly, these reviews really influence the internal politics of Belarus and relations of foreign countries with it.

The 17 branches of Viasna spread all over Belarus took part in the creation of the documents. The organization also made use of the information, provided by partner organizations and mass media.

In his speech Valiantsin Stefanovich mentioned that on 6 June the Chronicle-Review was presented at the Senate of Czech Republic. -- At present there are eight political prisoners in the country. The censorship in the country increases and students are deprived of many academic freedoms, which is witnessed by the hunger-strike of students in Zhodzina and the pressurization of the student of the journalist department of Belarusian State University Aliena Andreieva who can be remanded from the university for political activity, -- he said.