The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 2 Jul 2008

02.07.2008 Hrodna: 1st National TV Channel vs. Uniate Christians

Believers of Hrodna Greek-Catholic parish of Our Lady of Fatima have addressed the administration of the 1st National Channel of the State TV and Radion Company of Belarus with an open letter. The reason is the broadcast of the film about Brest Union in the ‘Chronicle of Times’ cycle.

02.07.2008 OSCE to send more than 300 observers to Belarus

The mission of the Bureau of Democratic Institutes and Human Rights of the OSCE has published a report with recommendations for monitoring of the election to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus. BDIHR OSCE recommends establishing a standard mission for monitoring of the election which will take place on 28 September. The experts point at the obstacles to effective monitoring of the poll during the earlier elections. The Bureau hopes that the Belarusian authorities will guarantee the access of monitors to monitoring of the poll.

02.07.2008 More ‘Young Front’ members get arrested

The activist of the Young Front from Baranavichy Zmitser Stankevich was detained in the center of the city, near Lenin Square, while he was handing out leaflets with information about the political prisoner Andrei Kim. A violation report was drawn up on Stankevich. He was accused of petty hooliganism. On 1 June the activist was tried by court and sentenced to 10 days of arrest.

02.07.2008 No registration for independent trade union in Rechytsa district

Rechytsa district executive committee refused to register Rechytsa district organization of the independent Belarusian trade union of workers of radio-electronic industry.

02.07.2008 Parliamentary election. Events and generalizations

On 24 June Alexander Lukashenka signed decree #344 On appointment of the election to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the fourth convocation. According to this document, the election will take place on 28 September.

02.07.2008 Report to electors or early agitation?

Regional press has started publishing articles about the merits of the present deputies.

02.07.2008 Tax inspections pressurize families of opposition candidates

The democratic activists who have been nominated by oppositional political parties as candidates for the elections to the House of Representatives are called to tax departments. Relatives of opposition politicians are checked, too.

02.07.2008 Minsk: authorities ban pickets of solidarity with political prisoner Kazulin

The Minsk local authorities forbade holding of pickets of solidarity with political prisoner Alexander Kazulin, former presidential candidate.

02.07.2008 Democratic activist Katsiaryna Manchuk is expelled from Mazyr State University

The girl was called to talks in the dean’s office and was asked to stop her public activity. But the administration of the university insists the girl had been expelled due to her bad results at the examination period, RFE/RL reports.

02.07.2008 Mahiliou authorities ban construction of monument to Holocaust victims

The Jewish community of Mahiliou has for the fourth time addressed the city authorities with a request to construct a monument in the place of mass extermination of Holocaust victims.

02.07.2008 Zhodzina: police seize leaflets with information about the EU

An activist of the civil campaign European Belarus Raisa Kuprushyna was detained by police in Zhodzina when she collected signatures for Belarus’ joining the European Union.

02.07.2008 ‘Young Front’ activist Artsiom Lastavetski is tried while serving arrest

Artsiom Lastavetski, Young Front activist from Baranavichy, who is serving 7-day arrest for handing out portraits of political prisoner Andrei Kim, was guarded to another trial from a detention center.

02.07.2008 Great changes in election districts of Mahiliou oblast

The greatest changes concern Krychau and Bykhau election districts. Former Kastsiukovichy election district has been completely divided between two neighboring election districts. Asipovichy election district is a new election district which has been established only this year.

02.07.2008 Central Election Commission establishes election districts

By its ruling #16 of 25 June 2008 the Central Election Commission has established the electioin districts for the upcoming election to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus.

02.07.2008 Journalist of Radio ‘Liberty’ fined for ‘contempt of court’

On 30 June the journalist of Radio Liberty Liubou Luniova was fined 280 000 rubles (about 130 US dollars) for contempt or court because she had answered a telephone call during the trial of an activist of the Young Democrats who had been nominated to Central Election Commission by the political council of the United Civil Party.