News on the topic: political persecution
23.08.2007 Trial of ‘Young Front’ Activist Ivan Shyla Appointed on 4 September
At 10 a.m. on 4 September Salihorsk town court will consider a criminal case against the activist of an unregistered organization Young Front Ivan Shyla. 16-year-old Shyla is charged with activity on behalf of unregistered organization (article 193.1 of the Criminal Code).
22.08.2007 Consideration of Criminal Case against Young Front Activist Nasta Azarka Appointed on 4 September
HRC Viasna learned that on 4 September Niasvizh district court will consider the criminal case against the Young Front activist Nasta Azarka. The case was brought under article 193.1 (activity on behalf of unregistered organization).
22.08.2007 No Place for ‘Opposition’ In Slavonic Gymnasium
In Babruisk the daughter of an activist of For Freedom! movement Ales Chyhir was not transferred to the 5th grade. Instead Chyhir received a letter from the headmaster. In this letter the father was proposed to take his daughter to another school. According to the official version Alisa Chyhir did not pass the entrance exams to the senior grades of the gymnasium. However, there are no examination minutes and orders for the establishment of the examination commission. Mr. Chyhir has a 13-year record as a teacher and knows all details of the educational process.
21.08.2007 Aliaksei Shein’s Complaint Turned down
Minsk city court turned down an appeal of a co-chairman of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Aliaksei Shein against a verdict of Frunzenski district court of Minsk sentencing the activist to 15 days of jail under article 23.34 of the Adminstrative Code (violation of the order of holding mass actions or pickets).
20.08.2007 Brest: Police Disrupt Meeting with Pavel Seviarynets
On 19 August in Brest the police detained participants of a meeting with a youth leader Pavel Seviarynets. It happened in 30 minutes after the beginning of the meeting. At first the people heard somebody knocking on the door. Then somebody started breaking it out. Shouting: ‘There is a thieves’ meeting! Hands up! I will shoot!’ a group of persons in mufti with a lieutenant-colonel at the head burst into the BPF office rented in a small cafe. About 20 policemen blocked the cafe, detained 32 persons and lead them out with hands on the heads.
20.08.2007 Russian Nazis from Vitsebsk Try to Intimidate Local Democrats
At the end of the last week Vitsebsk activists received threat letters signed by Vitsebsk branch of Russian National Unity (RNE). It is already the second attempt to intimidate the democratic society of Vitsebsk.
17.08.2007 Mikita Sasim Arrested for 10 Days
The press-center of Charter’97 managed to talk to the youth leader Mikita Sasim on mobile phone. Sasim said that he was detained by people in mufti. They seized him, twisted his arms and threw into a car. They behaved very rudely, tore his shirt, hit him in the back and legs several times and threatened to beat him.
17.08.2007 Ivatsevichy: Police Detain Participants of Summer Camp
In the morning of 17 August fifteen members of the BPF Youth headed for the town of Ivatsevichy, from which they planned to come to Koidanava. When they arrived to Ivatsevichy, the police came up to them at the railway station and said that ‘a mobile phone had been stolen’. Then they copied the passport data of all participants of the event. A member of the BPF Youth Andrus Ihnatovich has been detained.
15.08.2007 Chair of Shklou BPF Office Stays behind Bars
The chair of Shklou office of Belarusian People’s Front Party Aliaksandr Fiodarau will stay in jail, at least till the end of the investigation. The prosecutor of Shklou district Ihar Sitnikou denied the lawyer’s petition for change of the restraint to his client.
15.08.2007 Prosecutor’s Office and KGB Put Eye on BUNT
Minsk city prosecutor’s office summons for interrogations members of an unregistered movement BUNT. Human rights activists do not rule out that soon a new criminal case against youth activists can be brought.
15.08.2007 Kletsk: Criminal Case against Underground Press
Criminal charges have been brought against the underground publisher of Boiki Kletsk bulletin, democratic activist Siarhei Panamarou. That happened several hours after Panamarou’s submitting an application for a picket in support for the political prisoners.
14.08.2007 Siarhei Kliuyeu Complains to Prosecutor’s Office
An activist of Young Democrats Siarzhuk Kliuyeu has appealed to the prosecutor’s office against illegal actions of the police.
14.08.2007 Mahiliou: Armed Policemen Block Private House
Armed policemen have blocked a private house in Chkalau Street 16 in Mahiliou where a seminar of the oppositional movement with participation of representatives of Polish NGOs was taking place. The seminar participants do not let the police in. The house is ringed by nine policemen, three of whom have arms. There are also several persons in mufti as well.
13.08.2007 Criminal Case against Opposition Activist Features Samples of Telephone Bugging
The criminal case against the activist of Young Front Yaraslau Hryshchenia (brought under article 193.1 of the criminal case, ‘activity on behalf of unregistered organization’) contains materials that were received by the investigation by bugging his mobile telephone that was registered on a different name. There are about 20 minutes of recorded talks.
13.08.2007 Baranavichy: Viktar Parnachou Ordered not to Disconnect Phones
Today, on 13 August, a 22-year-old resident of Baranavichy Viktar Parnachou received an order from the police not to disconnect his home and mobile phones. He was also warned about possible summons to Baranavichy city police department of internal affairs.
