The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2008

14.04.2008 Young Front members detained

A number of Salihorsk activists were detained on April 11 for supporting the teenagers detained during the March 25 and March 2 actions in Salihorsk and Minsk. As a result, Ivan Shyla and Khrystsina Samoilava were fined 1,050,000 roubles each, and Andrus Tychyna was fined 700,000 roubles. The activists say they are going to appeal the verdict.

14.04.2008 UCPB Hrodna office closed down

Hrodna fire inspection officials say UCPB’s office cannot seat more than 15 persons due to fire safety reasons. UCPB Hrodna office will only be able to hold mass meetings after ‘all recommendations by the fire inspection are implemented’. At the same time, Yury Istomin, head of the office, says city authorities do not want large amounts of people, especially teenagers, to gather for political and cultural events.

14.04.2008 Journalist Shobin addresses Prosecutor’s office

The journalists that suffered from searches by the KGB on March 27 and 28 have filed a number of complaints with the Prosecutor’s office. One of them, BAJ Babruisk member Andrei Shobin, is going to appeal against the searches and regain his personal things that were confiscated.

14.04.2008 Polish citizens released

Polish citizens Anzelika Borys and Ihar Bancar detained on April 13 by Belarusian border guard officers were finally released. According to Aliaksandr Tsishchanka, head of Belarusian State Border Troops Committee’s press-service, said the activists had been detained for breaking the rules of entering the border zone. They were only released thanks to Polish vice-consul Marcin Kracinski’s personal involvement in the case.

14.04.2008 PACE to hear Belarus case

The spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is due to start in Strasbourg today. Among other issues, it will consider a report on the system of criminal justice in Belarus.

14.04.2008 Opposition bus stopped

On April 13 Lida police officers stopped a bus with a number of opposition leaders, musicians and other people going to Hrodna to take part in a series of culture and political events, including presentation of the United Democratic Forces of Belarus’ web-site www.udfb.org.

11.04.2008 Pavel Levinau stops hunger strike

A famous Vitsebsk human rights activist Pavel Levinau decided to start eating after 14 days of being on hunger strike. Pavel Levinau, member of Belarusian Helsinki Committee, says that he had to do so due to medical reasons. He was warned of possible aftermath of the strike.

11.04.2008 Rally leader fined

Pukhavichy district court sentenced Siarhei Abrazouski to a fine of 1,400,000 roubles for organizing an unauthorized action of protest against the construction of a chemicals plant. Abrazouski considers himself innocent and is going to appeal the decision.

11.04.2008 BAJ claim redirected

Belarusian general prosecutor’s office has redirected the claim received from Belarusian Association of Journalists to its Minsk office. General Prosecutor Vasilevich said that ‘the claim would be considered in detail’. BAJ is trying to receive explanations concerning the searches conducted in independent media offices in late March.

11.04.2008 Ludmila Atakulava facing expulsion

On April 10 Ludmila Atakulava, a Young front activist, was invited for a conversation to Belarusian State Economic University administration where she was informed that she would soon be expelled from the university for poor attendance.

11.04.2008 Trial of fourteen turns trial of ten

Aliaksandr Barazenka, Pavel Vinahradau, Mikhail Subach and Maksim Dashuk will not be tried for participating in the January 10 actions on April 16. They did not have enough time to study the case papers, that is why their trials will start later.

10.04.2008 Opposition activists sacked

Vitsebsk opposition members have been put under pressure after the March 25 actions. Several activists that had to serve from 8 to 15 days of prison for participating in the celebration of the Freedom Day, were either recommended to leave their jobs or fired by their employers.

10.04.2008 Human rights activists protest against customs searches

Human rights activists Ales Bialiatski and Valiantsin Stefanovich have addressed the Customs department with a request to provide explanations concerning numerous searches by Belarusian customs officials during their travels abroad this year. The activists say their claims can be used by other persons facing similar problems while crossing Belarusian border.

10.04.2008 Ludmila Atakulava fined 1,225,000

Yesterday youth activist Ludmila Atakulava, detained after the trial of Kasia Salauiova, was fined 1,225,000 roubles for violating the procedure of conducting mass actions.

10.04.2008 New criminal cases against Young Front members

Young Front activists Nasta Palazhanka and Aliaksei Ianusheuski are charged with acting on behalf of an unregistered organization (Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code). According to Nasta Palazhanka, the case was initiated on March 14, 2007. She said she had lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Internal Affairs demanding explanations concerning the matter of the case.