The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 22 Aug 2007

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.

22.08.2007 Pavel Seviarynets Sentenced to 15 Days of Jail

On 22 August Maskouski district court of Minsk held the third sitting on an administrative case against a political leader Pavel Seviarynets. The trial was to have taken place on 20 August, but was postponed first to 21 August and then to 22 August because of absence of the police witnesses. All this time Mr. Seviarynets was kept in Brest isolator.

22.08.2007 Customs Office Checks Your Letters Abroad

Recently the deputy chair of the International Federation for Human Rights Ales Bialiatski has started receiving foreign letters with interesting seals: ‘To present for customs examination’ and ‘Transportation permitted. Minsk regional customs office’. Such attentive examination of Mr. Bialiatski’s letters is not occasional. In fact, in Belarus there exists a convenient system of control of the private correspondence of public and human rights activists and politicians.

22.08.2007 Administration of ‘Hrodna Azot’ Plant Pressurizes Independent Trade Union

The administration of the open company Hrodna Azot (Hrodna Nitrogen) has started pressurizing members of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union in order to make them leave it and join a pro-governmental trade union Belkhimprafsayuz (Belarusian Chemical Trade Union).

22.08.2007 Activist of Entrepreneur Movement Summonsed to Police on Order of ‘Vertical’s’ Official

On 20 August a participant of a campaign For Free Development of Entrepreneurs Aliaksandr Tsedura was summonsed to Salihorsk district police department. The policemen explained that they did it on order of the chair of Salihorsk district executive committee Aliaksandr Rymasheuski. Rymasheuski decided that there was something illegal in Tsedura’s ad about the establishment of a committee for protection of the entrepreneurs’ rights and interests. The paper also informed about an upcoming social march against violations of workers’ rights that would take place in Minsk.

22.08.2007 Action in Peramozhtsau Avenue in Minsk

At about 8 p.m. on 21 August 40 activists of the public campaign For Freedom! came to Peramozhtsau Avenue (former Masherau Avenue)in Minsk. The youth activists flew the flags of the European Union and marched to Maskva cinema. There the street banner running ‘Our Time has Come! European March - 14 October 2007’ was installed.

22.08.2007 Entrepreneurs Receive Temporary Moratorium on Tax Inspections

Members of the Republican Public Association Perspective met with the deputy ministers for taxes and duties of Belarus Aliaksandr and Vasil Kamenka. The officials promised to settle the conflict which occurred today at the Zhdanovichy market and announced the monitoring moratorium for the time of the conflict settlement.