News on the topic: political persecution
14.08.2008 Baranavichy: how much saliva and how many fingerprints will be enough?
‘How much saliva and how many fingerprints should I take to police to be left alone?’ asks a resident of Baranavichy, member of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Viktar Meziak. For the first time his saliva and fingerprints were taken by the local police inspector. Then other policemen started calling demanding his saliva and fingerprints as well. ‘I have to explain to them that I have taken saliva and fingerprints already. It seems to me that it is a purposeful action so that one would not feel comfortable.’ The last such call Meziak received on 12 August at 11 pm.
14.08.2008 Ashmiany: police draw violation report on Ivan Kruk
On 19 July police confiscated from Ivan Kruk leaflets with a public statement of the united democratic forces on one side and a photo of Kruk on the other. Ivan Kruk states that these leaflets had no relation to the elections and even complained about the confiscation to the procuracy.
12.08.2008 Vitsebsk: candidate Levinau fired from police, but his harassment continues
On 12 August at 9.15 am the administration of Chyhunachny district police department of Vitsebsk familiarized Andrei Levinau with the conclusiong of the head of the police department of Vitsebsk oblast executive committee, colonel Farmahei, according to which Levinau was to be fired from police.
11.08.2008 Party of Communists Belarusian to sue Lukashenka for discrediting
At its assembly this Sunday the PCB ruled to sue Alexander Lukashenka, who in connection with the blast on 4 July stated that ‘Kaliakin’s communists profess fascist ideology’.
08.08.2008 Minsk: it is prohibited to hang paintings on the walls at BPF central office
On 8 August representatives of the fire security service of Savetski district of Minsk visited the central office of the Belarusian Popular Front Party. They held a check-up there and made several remarks to the secretaries of the office.
07.08.2008 Vitsebsk: police inspector persecuted for intention to run for Parliament
Captain Andrei Levinau, 36-year-old local police inspector of Vitsebsk district police department, stated his intention to run for the parliament. This became a surprise not only for the authorities but also for the opposition, because till lately this officer had nothing to do with politics.
07.08.2008 Civil case brought against Ivan Kruk
A civil case has been brought against Ivan Kruk, potential candidate at Iuye electoral district. The case was brought on the suit of the housing economy of Astravets for protection of honor and dignity. On 5 August Mr. Kruk received a writ from Smarhon district court, inviting him to the preliminary court sitting, appointed on 12 August.
05.08.2008 Fingerprints taken from Barys Vyrvich
On 4 August the police officers Kiryl Khlus and Alexander Rusetski came to the apartment of Barys Vyrvich, hear of the initiative group of the candidate to the Chamber of Representatives Ryhor Kastusiou, member of the BPF Party. The police officers asked Mr. Vyrvich where he had been on 3 July. Then they took his fingerprints and a saliva sample. Barys Vyrvich is convinced that the interrogation in the case of the blast in Minsk is connected with his public position and activities as the head of Kastusiou’s initiative group.
05.08.2008 Kobryn: MP confesses blackmailing Alexander Mekh
Kobryn court has carried out preliminary consideration of the case on complaint of the Belarusian popular Front Party activist Alexander Mekh. He complains of illegal dismissal from work.
05.08.2008 BPF party is forced to remove white-red-white flag from façade of its office
The housing and maintenance department of the Savetski district of Minsk demands that the Belarusian popular Front party remove a white-red-white flag from the building where the headquarters of the party is situated, and warned that otherwise the rental contract with the party could be dissolved. The office in Masherau Street, 8 where the headquarters of the Belarusian Popular Front is situated, is the place where opposition traditionally holds many its meetings.
04.08.2008 UCP members are interrogated in ‘Minsk blast’ case
Zmitser Slutski, head of Hrodna city organization of the United Civil Party, and leader of Hrodna organization of Young Democrats Alexandra Vasilevich, were called to the KGB directorate for Hrodna region.
01.08.2008 Elections are coming near, the pressure on civil society representatives increases
With nearing of the elections the pressurization of participation of the electoral campaign and democratic activists from the side of law machinery and tax inspections increases.
01.08.2008 Trade union leaders are interrogated in the case of 4 July blast
Siarhei Antusevich, representative of the primary organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BITU) at Hrodna-Azot open company, and Anatol Khotska, BITU representative in Hrodna oblast, were interrogated by Hrodna oblast KGB department. The trade union activists were asked to explain where they were in the night of 3-4 July. The KGB officers also proposed that the activists gave their fingerprints and asked whether they knew how to make bombs.
01.08.2008 Smarhon: KGB interrogates former deputy head of BPF Youth’s Smarhon branch
On 31 July Vadzim Zharomski, former deputy head of Smarhon branch of the BPF Youth, was taken away from work and guarded to Smarhon KGB department. There he was made to give explanations concerning the blast which had taken place on 4 July. Then Zharomski was fingerprinted at the police department.
01.08.2008 Police interrogate members of Vasil Paliakou’s initiative group concerning Minsk blast
On 30-31 July Natallia Shchukina and Tatsiana Tserashkova, member of the initiative group of Vasil Paliakou, were summonsed to Savetski district police department of Minsk by a telephone call. A police officer who did not introduce himself told them to come to the police department. He offered no explanations either.
