The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 1 Apr 2008

01.04.2008 Two criminal cases against Andrei Kim merged into one

On 1 April, at 2 p.m. the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk started trying the criminal case against the youth activist Andrei Kim. The trial was attended by Liavon Barshcheuski, Ales Bialiatski, Alena Ilyina, Aliaksandr Milinkevich, Mikola Statkevich, Vintsuk Viachorka and representatives of foreign embassies.

01.04.2008 Amnesty International condemns beatings at Freedom Day celebration

The international human rights organization has issued an official note concerning the events of 25 March in Minsk.

01.04.2008 Hrodna: Siarhei Malchyk persecuted again?

31 March the chair of Hrodna oblast organization of the BPF Party Siarhei Malchyk was summonsed to Leninski district police department of Hrodna. Bear in mind, that on 25 March, during the festive actions in honor of the 90th anniversary of the Belarusian People’s Republic, he was approached by the policemen who asked him to come with them to the police department and give explanations. The activist answered that he could go there only after getting official summons.

01.04.2008 Freedom day brings five days of jail to Barys Khamaida

The judge of Chyhunachny district court of Vitsebsk Raman Dehoda sentenced well-known political and human rights activist Barys Khamaida for alleged violation of article 23.34, part 3 of the Administrative Code.

01.04.2008 Paval Seviarynets detained

Four persons in civvies have just detained the politician Paval Seviarynets on return from the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk, where he attended the trial over the political prisoner Andrei Kim. As HRC Viasna learned, Seviarynets is being guarded to the prosecutor’s office.

01.04.2008 Riot police disperse action in support of political prisoner Andrei Kim

Riot policemen force away people from the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk, where the trial over Andrei Kim is taking place.

01.04.2008 Shklou: Alexander Fiodarau sentenced to 5 years of jail

On 1 April the judge of Shklou district court Alexander Tarakanau read a sentence on the criminal case against Alexander Fiodarau, boilermaker of the local municipal service.

01.04.2008 Case of political prisoner Siarhei Parsiukevich taken to court

The case of one of the leaders of entrepreneurs from Vitsebsk, a political prisoner Siarhei Parsiukevich, has been sent for trial to the court of Maskouski district of Minsk by the prosecutor’s office.