News on the topic: freedom of peaceful assembly
11.10.2011 Baranavichy authorities ban picket in support of Yuliya Tymoshenko
The Baranavichy City Executive Committee didn't allow Ryhor Hryk, a member of the United Civil Party and the Movement “For Freedom” to hold a picket in support of the Ukrainian politician Yulia Tymoshenko who has been sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment.
11.10.2011 Vitsebsk: police intimidate civil activists
On 11 October the Vitsebsk youth intended to hold a flash-mob “Radiation 2.0” in order to express their disagreement with the state plans to construct a nuclear power plant in Belarus. A special event was created in the social network “Vkontakte” in order to coordinate the actions.
11.10.2011 Slonim: trial of Ales Masiuk
On 10 October the Slonim District Court started trying Ales Masiuk, a local activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, for participation in the People's Assembly on 8 October.
11.10.2011 Belarusian police: smothering people to prevent epileptic attack
The Pershamaiski District Procuracy of Minsk refused to to initiate a criminal investigation into the beating of a pensioner, Uladzimir Marozau, by police officers on 6 July.
10.10.2011 Human rights defenders remind Belarusians about the problem of death penalty (photo report)
On 10 October, the World Day against the Death Penalty, civil activists and volunteers held informational actions in different parts of Belarus. In Minsk, activists of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty” came to Nezalezhnasts Avenue to remind passers-by that the Belarusian state still kills people. People eagerly took the informational booklets that were distributed by the human rights defenders. There are many people who are concerned with this problem. Some of them even started discussions with the activists.
10.10.2011 Trials over preventively detained are postponed
On 10 October the Court of the Minsk District and the City of Zaslauye started proceedings on the administrative case of Ihar Trykhanovich, who had been detained preventively short before the People's Assembly, on 8 October. He was kept in the remand prison in Skaryna Street till trial. The case was tried by Judge Minich. The trial was postponed to 13 October because of the absence of the police witnesses.
10.10.2011 Actions in support of Ales Bialiatski are still banned in Belarus
On 10 October the Leninski District Court fined human rights defender Viktar Sasonau, who had been detained on 23 august for handing out leaflets with information about the arrest of Ales Bialiatski, chairman of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”. The same day the police held a search at his apartment, confiscated two computer system units, informational and human rights editions and T-shirts with Bialiatski's portraits.
10.10.2011 Homel: dry hunger-strike and fines
Uladzimir Katsora, an oppositionist from Homel and organizer of the People’s Assembly, was taken to the Tsentralny district police department, where a report under article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (violation of order of holding mass events) was drawn up on him.
10.10.2011 8 October: persecution of organizers and participants of the People's Assembly continued all over Belarus
On 8 October, the day of the action, the authorities continued detaining and intimidating civil and political activists. People were seized in the streets arbitrary and arrested on sophisticated reasons.
10.10.2011 Sharkaushchyna: detention of journalist Kastys Shytal
On 7 October independent journalist Kastus Shytal was hitchhiking to his home town, Dzisna. The car in which he was sitting was stopped by the police. He was told that he resembled the man who war robbing cars on the road Hlybokaye-Sharkaushchyna.
10.10.2011 Brest: Vadzim Rabtsevich gets fined
The Leninski District Court of Brest sentenced Vadzim Rabtsevich, member of the Belarusian Leftist Party “Fair World”, to pay a fine of 70,000 rubles (less than $10) for alleged violation of Article 23.34, part 1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (“violation of the order of organizing or holding mass events”).
07.10.2011 Orsha: all policemen are away at dance parties
As it follows from the answer given to Orsha human rights defenders Vasil Berasneu and Vasil Leuchankau by Anatol Silchanka, head of the Orsha District Police Department, the situation with police personnel in Orsha is catastrophic.
07.10.2011 Monkey business of Mazyr officials
Mazyr human rights defender Uladzimitr Tseliapun still hopes to hold a picket in support of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski. However, the local authorities try to invent different pretexts not to allow the action.
07.10.2011 Persecution of organizers of the People's Assembly continues all over Belarus
The Belarusian authorities continue pressurizing members of the organizing committee of the national People's Assembly which will take part in towns and cities of Belarus on 8 October.
06.10.2011 Navapolatsk: Viktar Kalesnik is invited for “fingerprinting”
Civil activist Viktar Kalesnik is summonsed to the police on 7 October. He is sure that the real reason is his participation in the People's Assembly, which will take place on 8 October, not the dactilography. He has been detained many times already. His fingerprints were taken for the first time four years ago. The police also have his photo and video shots.
