The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News on the topic: freedom of peaceful assembly

22.01.2008 Results of trials over the detained during the entrepreneurs’ action on January 21st . (The list is updated regularly.)

Centralny and Maskouski courts of Minsk are trying the detained activists and citizens during the entrepreneurs’ rally on January 21st. The list is updated regularly.

Many of the detained have been beaten by policemen in the Central police department. They say they were beaten yesterday in the evening and today in the morning, on the way from the police station to the court. Earlier officers of the Centralny police department did not allow themselves to do that.

1. Vadzim Barouski, Centralny court of Minsk, judge Tatsiana Pauliuchuk, fined 700, 000 BYR; article 23.34 of the Administrative Code. 2. Artur Petsko, Maskouski district court of Minsk, article 23.34 of the Administrative Code, 15 days of jail.

21.01.2008 List of the detained during entrepreneurs’ rally on January 21st (updated regularly)

Some corrections and inaccuracies are possible. According to information from our activists, more than 20 people were detained. Now we are trying to find out their names.

1. Mikhail Subach, taken to Centralny police department 2. Lilia Subach, taken to Centralny police department 3. Alina Hladkaya, taken to Centralny police department 4. Yury Bakur (theer are 9 more detained people together with him in the police department) 5. Andrei Sharenda 6. Andrei Sauchuk 7. Tamara Sauchuk

21.01.2008 Mass detentions begin, ambulance arrives on the square

15.00 Some of the protesters squeezed out from the Independence Square, returned to Kastrychnitskaya Square. There is a big jam near Centralny store on the avenue. Riot policemen are pushing the action participants down the stairs to the underground crossing.

21.01.2008 Protesters squeezed out from the square

14.20 riot policemen who are ten times more in number than the rally participants are pushing everyone out of the square. Our reporter informs, the whole square looks black because of helmets and uniform. There is still no information about the detained.

21.01.2008 Protesters come to the Government’s House, riot policemen in helmets jump out of police trucks

14.15 The column that consists of over three thousand participants is coming to the Government’s House. People are walking on sidewalks. Riot policemen with shields and helmets jump out of police trucks located behind the Teacher’s University. The police do not attack the protesters. The riot policemen are surrounding the Government’s House.

21.01.2008 Protesters come out to traffic side, police trucks come closer too

About 1.40 p.m. participants of the entrepreneurs’ rally headed to the Independence Square. In the beginning they walked on the sidewalks, but in several minutes they came to the traffic side. Police trucks appeared immediately. They began to squeeze people back to the sidewalks. There is a complete mess in the center of the city near the KGB building. Part of the traffic is paralyzed.

21.01.2008 Entrepreneurs rally happening on Kastrychnitskaya Square now

Entrepreneurs are holding the planned rally on Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk. This time there are less participants than on a rally on January 10th. Now there are about one thousand people on the square. Representatives of foreign embassies and journalists came to the square. There are many police buses full of riot policemen in the yards nearby. There are 8 trucks and 2 tractors behind the Palace of the Republic. A car of the 1st state TV channel is driving around making a video of everything that is happening.

12.00 There are only several dozen people on the square now. There are not many police officers on the square either. The surrounding yards and blocks are full with police buses. State radio is broadcasted all over the square through the loudspeaker. No politicians are seen on the square. Most of the participants are young people.

21.01.2008 Police buses and detention trucks concentrated around Kastrychnitskaya Square

There are 3-5 police buses standing in several places around the square. RFE/RL reports about detention trucks. Road policemen do not allow cars to stop at Kastrychnitskaya Square.

21.01.2008 Authorities try to intimidate and isolate entrepreneurs and political figures before rally

The protest rally of entrepreneurs will start today at noon on Kastrychnitskaya Square. Before the entrepreneurs’ rally the authorities are trying to intimidate and isolate entrepreneurs and political figures.

20.01.2008 45 activists in jail, even more detained (the list is regularly updated)

1. Viachaslau Siuchyk – 10 days of jail

2. Anatol Liabedzka -- 15 days of jail

3. Ales Barazenka -- 15 days of jail

4. Paval Vinahradau – 15 days of jail

19.01.2008 Police try to detain Ales Mikhalevich

As the time comes closer to the entrepreneurs’ rally which is to take place on Kastrychnitskaya Square on January 21st, the police try to arrest deputy chair of BPF Party Ales Mikhalevich.

17.01.2008 Numerous Sentences to Young Activists

Several Young Front activists detained on January 16 (Solidarity Day) were brought to court under false charges.

17.01.2008 Katsiaryna Krasnova under trail

Centralny court of Minsk started hearings against Katsiaryna Krasnova, activist of Young Front. She is accused of participation in an unauthorized action of solidarity yesterday at Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk (article 23.34 of the Administrative Code).