Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (11-17 April)
The past week was marred by a terrible tragedy that made all other events fall by the wayside: on 11 April Minsk Kastrychnitskaya central metro station was rocked by a powerful blast, claiming 13 lives and causing injuries to over 200 more people. April 13 was declared a national day of morning. The explosion was qualified as an act of terrorism, the news that shocked Belarus as it had always been thought of as a rather safe country. On 12 April, a PACE meeting in Strasbourg considered the scheduled Belarusian issues, which was condemned by the official media, who labeled the human rights defenders attending the meeting as “a fifth column”, naming their actions “dance on bones”. However, the state-run media failed to mention a one-minute silence that opened the PACE session. A number of Belarusian politicians and journalists, including opposition leader Aliaksandr Milinkevich, independent columnist Aliaksandr Starykevich and former KGB officer Valery Kostka, were officially warned by the General Prosecutor’s Office for alleged dissemination of “ungrounded data on the 11 April tragedy.” Furthermore, the Information Ministry issued similar warnings to the Nasha Niva and Narodnaya Volya independent periodicals, together with the UzHorak minor local newspaper. Several case files of persons involved in the 19 December 2010 events were submitted to courts. Civil activists kept campaigning for the release of journalist Andrzej Poczobut, arrested on charges of libel of the President.
Politically motivated criminal prosecution
The criminal charges brought against former presidential candidates Dzmitry Us and Mikalai Statkevich, as well as the cases of several participants of the 19 December 2010 protest Andrei Pazniak, Aliaksandr Klaskouski, Aliaksandr Kviatkevich, Artsiom Hrybkou and Zmitser Bulanau, are to be considered by Minsk Leninski District Court in the near future.
The criminal case of Dzmitry Bandarenka, election agent of former presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau, has been submitted to Minsk City Court for defining territorial jurisdiction. The Court also received the case files of Andrei Sannikau’s wife Iryna Khalip, Siarhei Martsaleu, head of MIkalai Statkevich’s campaign team, and Pavel Seviarynets, election agent of former presidential candidate Vital Rymasheuski, facing charges under Par. 1 Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (“organization and preparation of actions that grossly violated public order, or active participation in them”).
Numerous claimants were unable to recover the property seized by the KGB agents during searches at the private apartments and offices of civil activists, journalists and human rights defenders in late December 2010 and January 2011. The complaints submitted to the prosecuting authorities were redirected to the KGB offices, who, in turn, returned them to local Prosecutor’s Offices. Homel police say part of the property seized from local “Tell the Truth” activist Yury Varonezhtsau was lost, including two expensive laptops. Apart from that, the police, as well as local prosecuting and judicial authorities, refused to return some USD 5,000 seized from the activist’s wife.
Detentions and administrative punishments
On 13 April, Judge Mrs. Halina Sytsko of Homel Savetski District Court fined Vasil Paliakou, local leader of the United Civic Party, BYR 875,000 for refusing to undergo fingerprinting. It should be observed that resisting fingerprinting is not an administrative offense, therefore the politician was convicted under Art. 23.4 of the Civil Code (“resisting police order”).
Similar charges were brought against Malaryta resident Ryhor Lukianchuk, who had refused to undergo fingerprint check, saying the examination was illegal.
Young Front Babruisk activist Maksim Charniak was fingerprinted for two times a day on suspicion of a theft he had not committed. On 12 April, Mahiliou Regional Court chaired by Judge Uladzimir Navitaniuk dismissed the cassational appeal by Maksim Antsypovich, previously fined for participation in an unauthorized picket back on 16 January.
On 14 April, Mahiliou Regional Court dismissed the cassational appeal by the BPF “Adradzhenne” opposition movement local leader Zmitser Salauyou, who argued that the arrest imposed on him by Leninski District Court was illegal.
Restrictions on freedom of speech
A number of civil activists keep campaigning for the release of journalist Andrzej Poczobut, arrested on charges of libel of the President and insult of the President, allegedly published in the Polish Gazeta Wyborcza major periodical, as well as on the journalist’s personal blog and www.belaruspartizan.org. The Human Rights Center “Viasna” released a statement in protest at the criminal charges brought against Andrzej Poczobut. The human rights defenders stress that the journalist has been repeatedly prosecuted and convicted for his professional activities, including a 15-day arrest for covering the 19 December 2010 events in Minsk. Mr. Poczobut’s harassment is also linked to his activities on behalf of the unregistered Union of Poles.
The General Prosecutor’s Office issued official warnings to the For Freedom leader Aliaksandr Milinkevich, journalist Aliaksandr Starykevich and former KGB officer Valery Kostka for “dissemination of ungrounded information on the tragic events in the Minsk metro”. The warning to Mr. Starykevich was caused by a publication “Who Benefits From It?” in the Salidarnasts Internet newspaper, said the journalist in an interview with the BelaPAN news agency.
The Ministry of Information issued warnings to three independent periodicals: Nasha Niva (14 April, for “publication of false information on the 11 April terrorist act”), Narodnaya Volya (15 April, “for dissemination of untrue and offensive data”) and UzHorak Mahiliou minor local newspaper (14 April).
Anatol Sanatsenka, editor-in-chief of the Babruiski Kurier independent newspaper, says he has been harassed by the local prosecuting authorities.
Restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly
Chair of Salihorsk town executive committee Aliaksandr Rymasheuski banned a number of pickets under the slogans “For Stability” and “For Our President” and another picket in proets at the first ban. The pickets were applied for by local pro-democratic activist Uladzimir Shyla and were banned due to “reconstruction works at a local stadium”. However, the stadium hosted a number of football matches on the days mentioned in the bid.
Politically motivated dismissals
Mrs. Sviatlana Rudkouskaya, activist of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, lost two jobs in a month. Human rights defenders believe the dismissals are linked to Mrs. Rudkouskaya’s activities during the recent election campaign, namely observation and appealing election violations.
Mrs. Volha Liamtsava, activist of the Tell the Truth civil campaign, was forced to quit her job after numerous employment violations.
Restrictions on freedom of association
On 11 April, the steering committee of the Young Democrats youth opposition movement received a reply from the Ministry of Justice, denying state registration to the NGO. According to one of the Young Democrats’ leaders Aleh Korban, they are not going to give up seeking official status.
Baranavichy housing department withdrew its letter of guarantee, authorizing the rent of a tiny office by the Kobzar Ukrainian minority NGO, thus depriving the organization of its legal address, which, in turn, makes it impossible for Kobzar to receive state registration.
