The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for January 2008

18.01.2008 Ales Bialiatski: “Sentence to Alexander Zdzvizhkou is direct violation of the Constitution”

Minsk city court announced its verdict on the case against Alexander Zdzvizhkou, former deputy editor-in-chief of Zhoda newspaper. He was found guilty of violation of article 130 part 2 of the Criminal Code “inciting religious enmity” for reprinting caricatures of Prophet Mohammed. Zdzvizhkou received a sentence of three years of imprisonment in a medium security prison.

18.01.2008 Riot police beat young people in court

Zmitser Fedaruk was beaten brutally when detained in Centralny court of Minsk. He left the court of the Central district together with other visitors. Yesterday the youth activists detained on 16 January, the Solidarity Day, were tried there. When leaving the court, Fedaruk was knocked down by seven police officers and thrown into a police car. He struck his head against the floor of the car, but his legs were outside, and then the policemen began to shove him into the car

18.01.2008 Zmitser Fedaruk arrested for 15 days

Zmitser Fedaruk, activist of the Young Front, was sentenced by Centralny district court of Minsk to 15 days of arrest. Yesterday he was detained in the court where he had come to support the activists detained on 16 January, the Solidarity Day.

18.01.2008 Deputy editor-in-chief imprisoned for 3 years for caricatures of Muhammad

Minsk city court sentenced former editor-in-chief of Zhoda newspaper Alexander Zdzvizhkou to 3 years of imprisonment in a medium security prison.

18.01.2008 The release of all political prisoners is one of the key conditions for Belarus to renew its

STATEMENT

by Mr Jacek PROTASIEWICZ, The Chairman - DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH BELARUS

18.01.2008 Human rights and democracy in Belarus off to discouraging start in the new year

Chairman of US Helsinki Commission Congressman Alcee Hastings brings the issue of Belarus to the floor

17.01.2008 Navumau’s Crocodile Tears

Belarusian human rights expert, Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Ales Bialiatski in connection with the recent repressions towards the participants of the 10 January action shares his observations:

17.01.2008 Zhaleznichenka’s Rights Restored

On January 16 Homel Tsentralny Borough Court resolved to oblige the administration of Homel State University to annul its decision to expel Zmitser Zhaleznichenka. He had faced expulsion for ‘systematic violations of inner rules’.

17.01.2008 Journalists not Allowed to Work in Court

The police tried to prevent Yulia Darshkevich from the Nasha Niva newspaper from taking pictures in Tsentralny Borough Court, where numerous political hearings are held today.

17.01.2008 Daily Interrogations of Detained Activists

The activists put to prison for participating in the 10 January Minsk action are interrogated every day.

17.01.2008 Barys Haretski not Permitted to Travel Abroad

Barys was made to leave the train as he was going to Kiev to a journalists’ seminar.

17.01.2008 Numerous Sentences to Young Activists

Several Young Front activists detained on January 16 (Solidarity Day) were brought to court under false charges.

17.01.2008 Kuryanovich gets 20 days of jail; police attempts to detain lawyer Alexander Haliyeu

The last sentence today was the most severe – Paval Kuryanovich, member of the “Jeans for freedom” campaign, was found guilty of violation of two articles – 17.1 and 23.34 of the Administrative Code. On the will of judge Tatsiana Pauliuchuk he will spend 20 days at Akrestsina jail in Minsk.

17.01.2008 15 days of jail to Mauliuda Atakulava

Young Front activist Mauliuda Atakulava was sentenced by “tireless” judge Tatsiana Pauliuchuk to 15 days of arrest. She was charged under article 23.34 of the Administrative Code. Atakulava was detained by police yesterday evening at a skating ring near Sports palace together with Kasia Krasnova and Kasia Halitskaya.