Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (4-10 April)
The recent social and political developments in the country have been accompanied by certain economic instability, with gradual increase in exchange rates and rush demand on the foreign currency and food markets. The 19 December 2010 “mass riot” criminal case is still underway: the Interior Ministry has announced the termination of the preliminary investigation activities. The case files of former presidential candidates Mikalai Statkevich and Dzmitry Us have been submitted to courts for consideration. Four more persons involved in the case – Zmitser Bandarenka, Pavel Seviarynets, Iryna Khalip and Siarhei Martsaleu – are now facing milder charges. Minsk City Court dismissed the appeals by Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, Dzmitry Novik and Aliaksandr Malchanau, who had been earlier convicted under Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. The General Prosecutor’s Office refused to initiate criminal proceedings following a torture report by former presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevich. Andrzej Poczobut, journalist and activist of the opposition Union of Poles, faces charges under two criminal articles – Par. 1 Art. 386 (“insult of President”) and Par. 1 Art. 367 (“libel of President”). Two KGB prisoners – UCP leader Anatol Liabedzka and “Tell the Truth” activist Aliaksandr Fiaduta – were released on recognizance.
Politically motivated criminal prosecution
According to the Interior Ministry, the preliminary investigation activities into the mass riot criminal case were over. The investigators argue that they had received “full evidence of an attempted coup by previous concert with representatives of foreign countries and organizations.” It was also reported that the investigative activities managed to establish the role and level of involvement of every suspect and accused in the case.
Four more persons involved in the case – “European Belarus” coordinator Zmitser Bandarenka, the BCD co-chair Pavel Seviarynets, journalist and Andrei Sannikau’s wife Iryna Khalip and Mikalai Statkevich’s associate Siarhei Martsaleu – are now facing milder charges (Par. 1 Art. 342 of the Criminal Code – “organization and preparation of activities that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them”.
On 4-5 April, the preliminary investigative department of Minsk City Department of Internal Affairs brought charges against seven participants of the 19 December protest – Drozd, Loban, Sakret, Kazakou, Matsukevich, Khamichenka, Fedarkevich. Another person Pavel Vinahradau faces additional charges of disrespect of the state symbols (Art. 370 of the CC).
On 8 April, former presidential candidate Dzmitry Us received a letter from Minsk City Court, saying that his case file, as well as that of Mikalai Statkevich, had been submitted for consideration to Minsk Leninski District Court. The opening day of the trial is yet unknown.
On 6 April, Anatol Liabedzka, leader of the United Civic Party, was released on recognizance. The politician is facing charges of involvement in the 19 December mass riot and had to spend over three months in the KGB pre-trial prison. However, he was last involved in the investigative activities back on 28 December 2010. Mr. Liabedzka said he was going to work for the reform of the Belarusian penal system.
On 8 April, Aliaksandr Fiaduta, one of the leaders of the “Tell the Truth” civil campaign, was released on recognizance. He avoided assessing his health after three months of imprisonment in the KGB pre-trial prison. However, he evidently lost weight and physical strength.
On 5 April, Minsk City Court considered the appeal against the verdicts to Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, Dzmitry Novik and Aliaksandr Malchanau. A board of judges presided by Valery Kamisarau upheld the verdict by Minsk Frunzenski District Court of 2 March.
Russian national Artyom Breus, convicted of involvement in the 19 December events, was denied residence registration in Minsk.
The United Kingdom called upon the Belarusian government to cooperate with the OSCE experts on a mission to assess the 19 December Minsk events, said a press-release by the UK embassy to Belarus.
Searches and interrogations in the criminal case
On 7 April, Kobryn KGB agents, accompanied by Minsk investigators, searched the residence of Natallia Radzina’s parents, seizing the journalist’s diaries, a PC, together with hundreds of solidarity letters from all over the world.
On 8 April, the KGB carried out another search at the private apartment of former presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau and his wife journalist Iryna Khalip. According to the journalist’s mother Mr. Bialzatskaya, this was a fourth KGB search in three months. On 7 April, Iryna Khalip finished studying the case materials, that name her among violators of public order.
Detention conditions, torture reports and other kinds of cruel treatment
On 2 April, the administration of Minsk detention center refused to accept medication for tonsillitis prescribed to Yauhen Kontush, leader of the Belarusian National Bolshevik movement, arrested for staging a picket on 1 April and sentenced to 12 days of administrative arrest by Minsk Leninski District Court.
On 4 April, the General Prosecutor’s Office refused to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the alleged torture reports by former KGB prisoner Ales Mikhalevich.
Restrictions on freedom of association
The Executive Board of the Assembly of Belarusian Pro-Democratic NGOs released a statement concerning the situation with the Belarusian Popular Front Minsk office, expressing its deep concern over the decision of Minsk housing officials to break the rent contract with the BPF. Moreover, the statement says “the importance of the office for Minsk social life is impossible to overstress, as it has been the center of cultural and socio-political activities for over 20 years.”
Mikalai Kvantaliani, leader of the Volunteer Services Development Center, was denied state registration, due to “a number of irreparable legal violations.” Lawyer Volha Smalianka believes the decision was illegal.
Administrative detentions and punishment of activists
Homel Savetski District Department of Internal Affairs initiated administrative proceedings against Vasil Paliakou, local leader of the United Civic Party, for alleged refusing to undergo fingerprinting. The trial was started on 8 April and is due to be resumed on 13 April.
Restrictions on freedom of speech
On 6 April, Hronda police arrested Andrzej Poczobut, reporter of the Polish Gazeta Wyborcza weekly. On 9 April, his detention was extended till 6 June. According to the journalist’s lawyer Aliaksandr Birylau, Anrzej Poczobut faces charges under Par. 1 Art. 386 of the CC (“insult of President”) and Par. 1 Art. 367 of the CC (“libel of President”). On 7 April, the European Parliament’s Belarusian Delegation, chaired by the Polish MP Jacek Protasiewicz, condemned the repressions by the Belarusian regime against representatives of pro-democratic community and Andrzej Poczobut, in particular.
On 1 April, the Justice Ministry demanded that the Belarusian Association of Journalists provided explanations concerning the International Federation of Journalists IDs, issued by the BAJ.
President Lukashenka’s visit to the town of Biaroza on 7 April was marked by restrictions of movement imposed on local independent journalist Mrs. Tamara Shchapiotkina, who was reportedly prohibited to leave her residence by local police.
Harassment of human rights defenders
Human rights activist Valiantsin Stefanovich lodged a complaint with Minsk City Prosecutor, demanding to prosecute the officials who reportedly violated Art. 10 of the Public Appeal Act, by evading direct consideration of Mr. Stefanovich’s earlier complaint, concerning the activist’s illegal detention on 20 December 2010.
