The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for November 2007

30.11.2007 Will political prisoner Finkevich be released in December?

A criminal case against one of the leaders of the Young Front Artur Finkevich has been submitted to the court of Kastrychnitski district of Mahiliou. It is expected that the court trial is to start in two weeks headed by judge Krachyk.

29.11.2007 Authorities Fear Meeting of Entrepreneurs on Kastrychnitskaya Square

Today entrepreneurs Ales Talstyka and Ruslan Lutsenka are to stand trial in the court of Zavodski district of Minsk.

29.11.2007 Van der Linden calls upon authorities of Belarus to abolish capital punishment

Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rene van der Linden has called upon the authorities of Belarus to vacate death sentences to Syarhei Marozau, Ihar Danchenka and Valery Harbaty, who were sentenced to execution by the Supreme Court in 2006, the statement by the PACE head reads.

29.11.2007 University Graduate to Pay 22 Million

seniya Avimava, a free-lance correspondent of a non-governmental economic weekly “Belarusians and Market”, is to disburse 22 million roubles for her refusal to honor the post-study working assignment and work for two years at Valozhyn state regional newspaper “Pracounaja Slava” (“Working Glory”).

28.11.2007 Address of Relatives of Abducted Politicians and a Journalist to Prosecutor General

One of the 12th recommendations of the EU to Belarus is “holding due independent investigation or revision of the cases of citizens’ disappearance”. On October 30 relatives of the oppositionists abducted in Belarus, Zinaida Hanchar, Iryna Krasouskaya, Svyatlana Zavadskaya, Volha Zavadskaya, and their legal representatives Harry Pahanyajla and Aleh Vouchak have handed over to the prosecutor general of Belarus a document, based on public investigation of these high-profile cases.

28.11.2007 Another Journalist Summoned to KGB

On November 27th, Mikola Kananovich, a journalist of a non-governmental periodical “Gazeta Slonimskaya”, received a phone call summoning him for a conversation “with no protocol” at the Slonim KGB branch.

28.11.2007 Entrepreneurs to Strike

Presidential decree #760 is to come into force on January 1. According to the decree, only legal entities – state-owned or private – will be authorized to employ workforce. Nevertheless, more than 90 percent of entrepreneurs refused to register as legal entities – private unitary enterprise – even though the procedure was sometimes facilitated. Will they keep on their work after the New Year? What are the sentiments of entrepreneurs today?

28.11.2007 Katsiaryna Salauyova: «It Resembled Criminal Series»

Katsiaryna Salauyova, Young Front activist, was detained in Polatsak on Sunday night. The girl was caught by unknown people in civvies and taken to a police department by force. The victim tells the details of her detainment to the Young Front press service.

28.11.2007 Policemen Read «Ordinary President»

On November, 26, KGB investigator Aliaksei Shahinau returned the computer, confiscated from Svetlahorsk dweller Sviatlana Mikhalchanka a month ago.

27.11.2007 KGB against BelSat

The first non-state TV channel for Belarusians BelSat begins broadcasting from December, 10. The Gomel KGB is trying to find out who of the local journalists is going to work for independent TV.

27.11.2007 Popular Front party members denied accommodation in Minsk hotels

The Party of the Belarusian Popular Front has failed to reach an agreement with the hotels in Minsk in order to accommodate the delegates of the party's congress to take place on December 8-9.

27.11.2007 "Media Freedom is an Unconditional European Value"

The foreign guests of the 10th International Minsk Forum, held in the capital of Belarus on November, 22-25, shared their vision of the freedom of speech and independent media in the country with the BAJ press-service.

27.11.2007 Alexander Kazulin Saw His Grandson

Three-days meeting of Alexander Kazulin and his relatives ended on Tuesday. His wife Iryna, daughters Volha and Yulia, and his grandson visited the colony “Vitba-3”.

27.11.2007 Policemen Maltreats Girl for Graffiti

Youth activist Katsiaryna Salauyeva is to go to police department for interrogation today at 3 p.m. People in plain clothes detained her last night near the building of the Polatsak city executive committee, after she drew a slogan on the wall: “Nobody can stop us! Young Front.”

26.11.2007 Police in Minsk Disperse Demonstration in Support of Kazulin

Four opposition activists were grabbed by police in downtown Minsk on Sunday afternoon as they together with several more youths attempted to stage a demonstration in support of imprisoned former presidential candidate Alexander Kazulin who turned 52 on that day.