The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for July 2007

31.07.2007 Human Rights Activists of Viasna Again Try to Obtain State Registration

On 23 July an initiative group of human rights activists applied to the Ministry of Justice for registration of the human rights public association Viasna. In the time when the authorities liquidate many NGOs and refuse to register new ones (as it recently happened to the human rights movement For Freedom!), a group of Belarusian human rights activists decided to unite their forces and try getting a state registration. A well-known human rights activist Ales Bialiatski, vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) told us about the reasons which influenced this decision and the situation of the civil right to association in Belarus:

31.07.2007 Youth Activists Hryshchenia and Viachorka Put Behind Bars

On 30 July Zavadski borough court of Minsk considered an administrative case against a member of Belarusian People’s Front Party Franak Viachorka. Viachorka was detained on 27 July, during an action dedicated to an anniversary of the State Sovereignty Declaration.

31.07.2007 List of Persons Detained on 27 July for Celebrating State Sovereignty Day

27.07.2007 27 July: Chronicle of Celebration of State Sovereignty Day in Minsk

4 p.m. – the police detain the chair of United Civil Party Anatol Liabedzka. 4.10 – mass seizures start. The police detain the deputy chair of the BPF Party Viktar Ivashkevich and some other activists.

27.07.2007 Zmitser Khvedaruk Sentenced to 10 Days of Jail

An activist of the unregistered organization Young Front Zmitser Khvedaruk spent a day at Minsk Maskouski borough court. In the morning he was detained by people in mufti on the way to a trolleybus stop from the Justice House where he attended the trial of Kanstantsin Lukashou. The police accused him in using four-letter words and detained till evening.

27.07.2007 Belarusian Helsinki Committee: Sentence to Coordinator of Russian Nazis in Homel Is Unfair

The national public association Belarusian Helsinki Committee is disappointed with the fact that the activity of the coordinator of Russian National Unity (RNE) in Homel Mikhail Yakauchuk was qualified under article 193.1 of the Criminal Code (activity on behalf of unregistered organization). Earlier such article was used against political opposition. Yakauchuk was sentenced to 6 months of jail.

27.07.2007 White-Red-White Flag over Holy Mountain

Activists of the public campaign Jeans for Freedom celebrated the State Sovereignty Day with a symbolic action. In the morning of 27 July 10 people came from Minsk to the Holy Mountain (during the times of the Soviet rule it was renamed after Derzhinsky and now is officially called Dziarzhynskaya). It is the highest hill in Belarus, 345 meters high. The activists put there a 6-meter flagpole with a red-white-red flag.

27.07.2007 Leanid Marakou Issues Book about Stalin’s Repressions

A unique book dedicated to the 1930 year’s repressions appeared in Belarus. Researcher Leanid Marakou had been working on his book Victims and Hangmen for 11 years.

27.07.2007 Today Is Anniversary of Declaration of Belarus’ State Sovereignty

17 years ago the Supreme Soviet of the BSSR by the majority vote adopted the Declaration On State Sovereignty of Belarus .Thus, the page of the country’s history was turned over. The pro-communist deputies’ corps by its resolution laid a foundation for creation of the free democratic and prosperous country without even realizing that. Belarus took the European way of development that was absolutely natural for the country.

27.07.2007 Detentions in Mahiliou

On 27 July in Mahiliou near a place where unknown persons had hanged a white-red-white flag the police detained an independent journalist Hanna Iliina and the chair of Mahiliou city organization of United Civil Party Siarhei Straltsou. Iliina and Straltsou were accused of making photos of policemen without permission.

26.07.2007 Chronicle of Persecution of Youth Activists on the Eve of 27 July, State Sovereignty Day

23 July The Young Front member Aleh Korban was detained by persons in mufti on suspicion in theft of a mobile phone. Korban was taken to the police for identification and released without any violation reports composed.

26.07.2007 Minsk Regional Court Confirms Deportation of Priest Jaroslaw Lukasik

The college board of Minsk regional court left in force the verdict of Miadzel district court for deportation of the Evangelic pastor of Ian the Precursor church Jaroslaw Lukasik.

26.07.2007 Musicians Fired for Performing at Basovishcha Rock Festival

The vocalist of Stsiana rock band Pavel Prokharau and its drummer Aliaksei Kuzniatsou work as sound-engineers at Brest state TV studio. Recently they have been informed that on 8 August they will be fired for ‘absenteism from work which resulted in violation of the working discipline’ (paragraph 5 of article 48 of the Labor Code).

26.07.2007 One of Leaders of Homel Russian Nazis Arrested for 6 Months

According to the press service of Homel regional KGB branch, one of the leaders of Homel office of the unregistered organization Russian National Unity (RNE), 26-year-old Mikhail Yakauchuk has been sentenced to 6 months of arrest for organization of an unregistered public association.

26.07.2007 Celebration of 27 July to Take Place despite Any Obstacles

In spite of preventive arrests of many activists the democratic opposition is still going to celebrate 27 July, the day when the State sovereignty declaration was signed in 1990.