The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for July 2007

17.07.2007 Criminal Charges Brought against Nasta Azarka

The first interrogation of Nasta Azarka is to take place on Friday.

13.07.2007 Protestants Defend Their Right to Have Tent Camp

Believers of the protestant community “Church of Jesus Christ” defended their summer camp in Valozhyn area which gathered about one hundred children.

13.07.2007 Youth Leader Aliaksei Shydlouski Released without Charges

Youth leader Aliaksei Shydlouski, as well as opposition activists Mikalai Pryvarnikau and Pavel Baranouski, were detained in the center of Minsk by KGB officers.

12.07.2007 Mahiliou Donors Receive Answer from Parliament Concerning Repeal of Benefits

As said to BelaPAN by the honorary donor of Belarus Ihar Kavalenka, the appeal to the parliament was forwarded to Mahiliou city executive committee, and the answer was signed by its deputy chair F.Mikheyenka.

12.07.2007 Another Refusal to Register 'Young Front'

The justice department of Minsk city executive committee again refused to register Minsk city public association Young Front. It is already the second refusal to register the organization. Earlier the CEC justice department refused to register it for mismatches in the charter.

12.07.2007 Brest: Pickets in Support of Kazulin Are Banned

Brest city executive committee didn’t satisfy the application of Brest regional branch of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada for authorizing a picket in support of Aliaksandr Kazulin.

12.07.2007 Ministry of Justice Registers New Charter of Party of Communists of Belarus

The Ministry of Justice has registered the new charter of the Party of Communists of Belarus. In her interview with Tovarishch newspaper the secretary of the Central Committee of the PCB Alena Skryhan stated that the new edition of the charter, which was adopted at the 12th assembly of the party in December 2006, was studied by the Ministry of Justice for quite a long time. ‘They didn’t present any new demands to us, but didn’t register the charter either. Maybe they thought what they should do,’ Skryhan commented.

12.07.2007 Yury Aleinik Does Not Give In

On 11 July Yury Aleinik applied to Minsk city court with the request to find his case liable for court consideration and return it to Kastrychnitski court of Minsk. He was told that the complaint would be considered either on 6 or 13 August.

12.07.2007 July

On 7 July Chyhunachny court of Vitsebsk fined Barys Khamaida was fined about 140 US dollars under article 23.34 (violation of the order of organization and holding mass actions).

12.07.2007 Criminal Case against Union of Poles in Belarus Terminated

The Belarusian authorities have stopped criminal proceedings against 4 members of the Union of Poles in Belarus. Veslau Keuliak, Andzhei Pachobut, Yozef Pazhetski, and Andzhei Pisalnik can now address Hrodna police and get a stamp in passports which allow leaving Belarus for all countries of the world.

12.07.2007 Hrodna Authorities Fear Christ

A plain-air Christ Has Landed in Harodnia (from the title of a book by the Belarusian classic Uladzimir Karatkevich) was to take place on 13-15 July in Hrodna. The organizer of the plain-air Henik Loika told that according to the preliminary approval of the city authorities, a sand statue of Christ was to appear at the bank of Nioman near Drama theatre.

12.07.2007 Workers Can Come out to Streets

Workers of Minsk Ball-Bearing Works sent a group letter to the President’s Administration and the State Control Committee asking to check the works and expressing their readiness to street actions for defending their rights.

12.07.2007 Action of Solidarity with Political Prisoners to Take Place on 16 July

As stated by the United Civil Party, at 6 p.m. on 16 July an action of solidarity with political prisoner Andrei Klimau will take place in Minsk at Kastrychnitskaya Square. Participants of the rally will gather on the square with portraits of Andrei Klimau, Aliaksandr Kazulin, Zmitser Dashkevich, Artur Finkevich and other prisoners of conscience.

12.07.2007 Homel: Shop Assistants Hide Independent Press

On 11 July, when buying non-governmental press SNplus at Tamara shop of the trade republican unitary enterprise Homelablsayuzdruk (Homel regional publishing house) Homel journalist Maryia Shymanouskaya learnt from talk of the shop staff about the given order to hide the non-governmental press from the buyers.

12.07.2007 Homel: Tax Inspection Pressurizes Human Rights Activists

Homel tax inspection has decided to check the public association Legal Initiative. On 13 July Leanid Sudalenka, chairman of Homel branch of the organization is to give a number of documents for examination. The list of the required documents includes about 20 items.