18.04.2013 Vitsebsk activist Piotr Ivanov fined 4 million
The first penalty of 2 mln was awarded for allegedly stating false facts in his complaint of a violation of traffic rules by a police car. The second fine deals with disobeying police officers who forcibly dragged him to court for perjury. Piotr Ivanov did not admit his guilt either in the first or in the second case.
18.04.2013 Barysau entrepreneurs threaten to go on strike
Vendors object to rental fees rise at the local market.
18.04.2013 Vitsebsk Regional Court turns down Siarhei Kavalenka’s appeal
Vitsebsk Regional Court upheld the decision by Pershamaiski District Court to fine Siarhei Kavalenka, activist of the Conservative Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front,” 1 million rubles on disorderly conduct charges.
18.04.2013 Amnesty International: Silencing civil society in Belarus
The report, What is not permitted is prohibited: Silencing civil society in Belarus, shows how the authorities in Belarus regularly deny the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and expression, preventing people from speaking out in public, holding demonstrations or setting up civil organizations. Peaceful demonstrators frequently face fines or even prison sentences.
18.04.2013 Homel court upholds picket ban
Judge Zhanna Andreichyk of the Court of Homel’s Tsentralny District considered yesterday the complaint of civil activist Kanstantsin Zhukouski about a ban on holding a picket on 1 April imposed by the city executive committee. The activist and his associates were planning to hold a rally under a slogan “Homel City Executive Committee! Hands Off History!” in order to attract public attention to the destruction of unique wooden buildings in the center of Homel.
17.04.2013 Verdict in extremism trial expected tomorrow
The Court of Ashmiany district (Hrodna region) considered today a lawsuit brought by the KGB’s regional office to recognize the “Belarus Press Photo 2011” album an extremist edition.
17.04.2013 Ivashkevich cannot leave Belarus due to “destructive talks about sanctions”
A coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign, Viktar Ivashkevich, was banned from leaving the country, because he has not “repented” on the Charter'97 website.
17.04.2013 Salihorsk authorities reject proposals for improving language equality
Salihorsk office of the Belarusian Language Society received a reply to its statement urging the officials to bring the names of local executive bodies in compliance with the Constitution and the Law “On Languages.” Among other things, the BSL demanded to translate the signs on the buildings of Salihorsk district executive committee and the district council of deputies into the Belarusian language, the entrances to which are still decorated with signs only in Russian.
17.04.2013 Viktor Stukov: "I thought I`m going to Polotsk Court, and it turned out that it is the court of Irina Dorotko."
Judge of the Polotsk Court Irina Dorotko has rejected all of the arguments of the trade union leader Victor Stukov, and upheld the employer's decision to dismiss him. According to Victor Stukov, the objections of the trade union lawyer Elena Eskova were responded by the judge as follows: "I don't know about other courts, but here is my court!"
17.04.2013 Astravets civil society activist seeking return of seized items
Astravets civil society activist Mikalai Ulasevich keeps his legal battle with Ashmiany regional customs. He sent another complaint to the district court of Ashmiany to challenge the unlawful actions of customs officials.
17.04.2013 Vitsebsk judge goes unpunished
“The investigation into the facts of gross disrespect to the participants of the trial by Judge of the Court of Kastrychnitski District of Vitsebsk I.V. Hrabouskaya failed to find grounds for initiating disciplinary proceedings against her,” says an official letter from the first deputy head of the Justice Department of Vitsebsk regional executive committee Ihar Karzhou in response to a statement sent to said department by the head of Vitsebsk regional office of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Leanid Autukhou.
17.04.2013 We Will Not Forget: Yury Zakharanka
The Minsk office of the Belarusian Popular Front hosted yesterday an event in memory of Yury Zakharanka, former Minister of Internal Affairs, who disappeared almost 14 years ago. The meeting entitled “We Will Not Forget” was arranged by activists of the Young Christian Democrats.
16.04.2013 Starch plant near Pruzhany pollutes environment
The plant, built by the Chinese technology, cannot handle wastewater treatment and air pollution issues, making huge emissions into the river, Euroradio reports.
16.04.2013 Opposition activists in Brest seeking permission for May Day demonstration
The Brest regional chapter of the Hramada Belarusian Social Democratic Party (BSDP) has applied to the regional capital's authorities for permission to stage a May Day demonstration in the city.
16.04.2013 Minsk City Court turns down appeal by Ukrainian activists
Minsk City Court dismissed today an appeal lodged by Mrs. Yulia Hryshchuk and Mrs. Yulia Slivinskaya, both citizens of Ukraine, who were detained by the police during the 24 March Freedom Day demonstration. The girls were then charged with resisting arrest and eventually sentenced to one day of administrative arrest each.
