The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for June 2007

25.06.2007 “SOS Hrodna!” Initiative Created in Poland

Polish authorities help to protect historical heritage of Hrodna

25.06.2007 Pickets against Staff Reduction to Be Held in Pruzhany

Pruzhany companies carry out staff reductions.

25.06.2007 Freedom House: There Is Practically No Freedom of Press in Belarus

“Of the 195 countries and territories examined in the survey, three of the 10 worst press freedom abusers — Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan — are found in the former Soviet Union”

25.06.2007 Details of Political Provocation on BTV

Belarusian State Television Accuses Young Front of Terrorism

25.06.2007 Entrepreneurs Found Trade Union

A founding conference of “Self-Employment” entrepreneurs' trade union was held in Vitebsk.

22.06.2007 Entrepreneurs Rejected Right to Appeal to Constitutional Court

The Council of the Republic ruled, Perspektyva NGO had no right to appeal to the Constitutional Court on the issue of lawfulness of presidential decree # 760. The standing committee of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly on economy, budget, and finances and the Main expert board of the Secretariat of the Council of the Republic rejected the request of Anatol Shumchanka. The head of Perspektyva NGO asked to address the Constitutional Court with an inquiry about the conformity of presidential decree # 760 of December 29th, 2006, with the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus.

22.06.2007 Members of BPF Party to Fight for Bicycle Parking Lots

Andrus Ihnatovich, member of BPF Youth, and Franak Viachorka, member of BPF Council, applied to Minsk authorities for permission to hold a picket. The goal of the picket is to raise the issue of bicycle parking lots for students and other Minsk residents. According to Ihnatovich, who initiated the picket, the problem should be solved jointly by Minsk authorities and administrations of the universities located in the city.

22.06.2007 Academy of Management Flatly Objects to Reinstate Yuras Aleinik

Yesterday Kastrychnitski court of Minsk held a pre-trial session before the hearing on the suit of Yuras Aleinik against administration of the Academy of Management.

21.06.2007 Mahiliou: Court Reverses Police Rulings against Seven US Citizens

According to the director of the international charitable association Stefanus Dzmitry Kantsavenka, Kastrychnitski court of Mahiliou has reversed the rulings for administrative punishment of seven US citizens and returned their cases for reconsideration.

21.06.2007 Participation in Round Table on Destruction of Hrodna Banned to University Historians

Participation in Round Table on Destruction of Hrodna Banned to University Historians

21.06.2007 Minsk Tsentralny Police Department ‘Loses’ Jaroslaw Lukasik’s Complaint

Minsk Tsentralny Police Department ‘Loses’ Jaroslaw Lukasik’s Complaint

21.06.2007 Svetlahorsk Citizens Apply for Picket against Repeal of Benefits

Svetlahorsk Citizens Apply for Picket against Repeal of Benefits

21.06.2007 Smaliavichy: Trade Union Office Robbed

Unknown people have broken out a window grating and robbed the office of the Trade Union of Radio Electronic Trade in Smaliavichy. According to the chair of the primary unit of the Belarusian RET in Smaliavichy Valery Sachyuka, it is already the third robbing during the year.

21.06.2007 Salihorsk Police Detain People Even for Drawings on Pavement

Salihorsk Police Detain People Even for Drawings on Pavement

21.06.2007 Vitsebsk: Picket in Support of Kazulin Banned

Vitsebsk city executive committee finds holding pickets ˜Freedom to Kazulin!’ inexpedient. The application for holding pickets in Vitsebsk has been sent to the chairman of Vitsebsk city executive committee Piatro Drazdou by the leader of Vitsebsk branch of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada Volha Shpakouskaya.