The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2008

18.04.2008 Milinkevich invited for a conversation to ministry of justice

On April 17, Aliaksandr Milinkevich, leader of the newly created movement ‘For Freedom!’, was invited for a conversation by a Ministry of Justice official Aleh Slizheuski. The meeting will deal with the ministry’s reluctance to grant official registration to the movement.

18.04.2008 Polish citizens fined

Anzhalika Borys, head of unofficial Polish Union in Belarus, and Ihar Bancar, a journalist of Magazyn polski, were fined 525,000 roubles for entering the border zone without special permission. The decision was made by special administrative commission of Lida border troops military unit. Besides, they will not be able to leave Belarus until the fine is paid off.

18.04.2008 Three teenage activists detained in Vitsebsk

Three BPF’s Youth members – Yulia Mikhailava, Khrystsina Chyzh and Vika Chyzh were detained by Vitsebsk police during a Solidarity Day action in the city center on April 16. They were standing and holding portraits of Belarusian political prisoners. 15 minutes later the action was broken up by the police. The girls were taken to local police department and three hours later released.

18.04.2008 PACE special rapporteur calls on Belarus to respect rights of its citizens

According to Belapan, Andrew McIntosh, media-freedom rapporteur in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), called on the Belarusian government in a statement posted on PACE's website (http://assembly.coe.int) on April 17 to respect the right to freedom of expression.

17.04.2008 Pro-dem forces to readdress parliament for election code changes

According to the UCPB leader Anatol Liabedzka, the National Committee of the United Democratic Forces will address the Belarusian parliament with a request to introduce changes to the electoral code of Belarus. Most of them deal with the system of monitoring poll procedures, as well as the rights and opportunities of inner and external observers.

17.04.2008 Belarusian political prisoners demand to stop repressions

Belarusian political prisoners called upon the world community to insist on Belarusian authorities’ stopping to utilize political repressions in the country. The appeal was sent to the UN key persons including UN Secretary General and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, along with OSCE and a number of foreign embassies to Belarus. The authors of the address mention the political trials of this spring that can result in long terms for a dozen youth activists. They also demand to stop persecuting civil and political organizations critical of the existing regime.

17.04.2008 Dobrush teacher fired for social activity

Dobrush district court turned down a claim by Klaudzia Varanets, a school teacher and a UCPB activist, demanding to reverse the decision by local education department to sack Varanets for ‘absence from work’ as she was having rest abroad. She was accused of failing to wait for the official permit for leave. Varanets’ lawyer Leanid Sudalenka says the school administration and the education department violated the labour legislation. He also said that he considers the verdict a politically motivated move.

17.04.2008 Viasna to appeal against registration ban

The key persons of the human rights center Viasna are trying to regain official status for their organization by appealing against the decision of the Supreme Court of Belarus depriving Viasna of state registration. In case their claim is not met again, the activists intend to address the UN Human Rights Committee.

17.04.2008 Activists detained

Kanstantsin Zhukouski and Sviataslau Shapavalau, activists of the Belarusian Christian Democracy movement, were detained for distributing leaflets in the town of Vetka, Homel region.

17.04.2008 Swedish Human Rights Defenders Express Support to the Persons Charged in “Case of 10”

Today, April 16, Swedish human rights defenders from the Swedish Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights expresse their support to the persons charged in the “criminal case of 10”.

16.04.2008 CE wants sanctions against Belarus

CE PACE approved the resolution on abuse of power in Belarusian criminal justice. The resolution calls upon Belarus to declare a moratorium concerning the use of death penalty in the country, and stop utilizing article 193.1 of the Criminal Code – criminal persecution for social activity.

16.04.2008 Verdict to Vitsebsk activists reaffirmed

Vitsebsk regional court reaffirmed the decision according to which two Vitsebsk activists Antanina Pivanos and Alena Zalesskaia had been fined for participating in the March 25 action. The girls were caught carrying red-white-red flags in the center of Vitsebsk.

16.04.2008 Barys Khamaida fined again

Vitsebsk opposition activists Barys Khamaida received a copy of the verdict stating he had been fined 175,000 roubles for breaking trading rules, namely selling independent newspapers and magazines in the city center. Khamaida failed to attend the hearing of his case due to health problems. He says that in spite of persecution he will go on distributing independent press in Vitsebsk.

16.04.2008 KGB harasses pro-dem youth

On April 16, Khrystsina Marchuk, a youth activists from Hrodna, was summonsed to the KGB region department. The summons served by dean of Hrodna State University philology department did not specify the reason for the invitation.

14.04.2008 Human rights activist addresses president

Human rights activist Mikalai Kalinin addressed Lukashenka complaining against the State Department on Religious and National Affairs officials. He claims he had addressed the Department with a request to clarify the situation with the Gypsy minority in Belarus and received an evading reply saying he has to address a non-governmental body.