News on the topic: freedom of association
10.07.2008 Five persons are arrested in connection with Minsk blast
Many electronic mass media continue informing that four former activists of the underground organization White Legion, Siarzhuk Chyslau, Ihar Korsak, Miraslau Lazouski and Viktar Liashchynski, have been arrested within the frames of the criminal case which has been brought on the fact of the bomb blast during the official concert in the night of 3-4 July.
04.07.2008 Another complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee
On 1 July the members of the liquidated cultural and educational NGO Stary Horad which used to operate on the territory of Brest filed a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee against the liquidation. Stary Horad was registered in 1992 for support of the public and cultural initiatives of Brest residents, aimed at development and wellbeing of their city. On 12 April 2007 Brest oblast court ruled to liquidate the organization on suit of Brest oblast executive committee.
04.07.2008 Pavel Yukhnevich is imprisoned for seven days
Pavel Yukhnevich, activist of the European Belarus civil campaign, is serving his 7-day arrest in the jail on Akrestin Street in Minsk since yesterday.
12.06.2008 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders expresses its grave concern with persecution of Leanid Svetsik
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in *Belarus*.
09.06.2008 Anzhalika Borys, head of Union of Poles in Belarus, gets fined for concert
Anzhalika Borys, head of the unrecognized by the authorities Union of Poles, has been sentenced to a fine of 1.4 million Belarusian rubles for having organized a concert of the well-known Polish band Lombard in Hrodna on 2 May.
28.05.2008 Public statement of Belarusian voluntary society for protection of monuments of history and culture
In 2004 the building which belonged to the voluntary society for protection of monuments of history and culture and was restored at the expense of the organization (as well as almost all buildings in this historical block), was unlawfully nationalized for the benefit of the state. The state proved to be shameless enough to make the former investor a renter. Then, executing a new presidential decree for economical liquidation of the civil society, the authorities refused to prolong the rent agreement to the voluntary society. Instead, it was proposed that the organization should leave its premises by 3 p.m. on 15 May 2008.
23.05.2008 Yury Istomin fined for concert of Polish band
Yury Istomin, chairman of Hrodna city branch of the United Civil Party, was fined 1 050 000 rubles (about 493 US dollars) for organization of the concert of the Polish band Transkapela in the UCP office on 13 May.
15.05.2008 Milinkevich is prohibited to drink water near Orthodox chapel
14 May the leader of the For Freedom movement Alexander Milinkevich visited Smaliavichy and Lahoisk and met with the local citizens. During his visit to Lahoisk the politician got a notice for an attempt to drink water from a well near an orthodox chapel.
14.05.2008 Hrodna: another administrative case for concert
An administrative report under article 23.34 (active participation in unauthorized action) has been composed today against the chairman of Hrodna oblast branch of the United Civil Party (UCP) Yury Istomin. The police qualified as an unauthorized action the concert of a well-known Polish band Lombard in Hrodna.
12.05.2008 Anzhalika Borys tried for organizing a concert
A chair of the Union of Poles in Belarus Anzhalika Borys faces an administrative penalty for organizing a concert of the Polish band Lombard in Brest.
14.04.2008 Polish citizens released
Polish citizens Anzelika Borys and Ihar Bancar detained on April 13 by Belarusian border guard officers were finally released. According to Aliaksandr Tsishchanka, head of Belarusian State Border Troops Committee’s press-service, said the activists had been detained for breaking the rules of entering the border zone. They were only released thanks to Polish vice-consul Marcin Kracinski’s personal involvement in the case.
24.03.2008 Katsiaryna Salauyova to be tried on March 27th
The trial over youth activist Katsiaryna Salauyova will start in Polatsak on March 27th, 3 p.m.
12.03.2008 Police Draw Violation Report against Aliaksandr Makayeu
On 12 March a leader of the entrepreneurs’ movement, supporter of the For Freedom movement Aliaksandr Makayeu was summonsed to Maskouski district police department (DPD) of Minsk. There the police drew on him a violation report for participation in the meeting of entrepreneurs in Baranavichy on 11 February.
12.03.2008 Activist of ‘For Freedom’ Movement Zarembiuk Haunted by KGB
On 11 March the resident of Masty, activist of the For Freedom movement Ales Zarembiuk spent 2,5 hours at Hrodna oblast KGB office.
10.03.2008 Criminal Cases for Participation in 10 January Entrepreneurs’ Rally
Recently a criminal case has been brought on the fact of ‘organization and active participation in the actions that grossly violate the public order’ (article 342, part 1 of the Criminal Code), in connection with the peaceful action of the Belarusian entrepreneurs that was held on 10 January in the center of Minsk. The punishments on this article vary from fine to 3 years of jail. At present there are 14 accused in the case.
