The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 10 Jul 2008

10.07.2008 Cassation complaint on the ‘case of 14’ is to be considered on 22 July

The cassation complaint concerns 10 of the 13 tried activists and will be considered by Minsk cit court on 22 July.

10.07.2008 Brest: Yury Bakur complains to UN Human Rights Committee

Mr. Bakur decided to apply to the UN Human Rights Committee after going through all court instances of Belarus with complaints against the verdict of Maskouski district court of Brest, by which he had been fined 93 000 rubles (about $43).

10.07.2008 Belarusian Helsinki Committee becomes a partner of the Council of Europe

On 10 July the office of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee received the information that the Council of Europe has granted to it the status of a partner, thereby acknowledging the working relations which have been established between it and BHC.

10.07.2008 Authorities persecute members of Young Front in connection with 4 July blast

On 9 July the activist of the Young Front Yaraslau Hryshchenia was summonsed to Baranavichy district police department for giving explanations concerning the blast which had taken place in the night of 3-4 July, during the celebration of the official Independence Day.

10.07.2008 Mikalai Charnavus is deprived of building because of intention to run at the parliamentary elections

The political activist Mikalai Charnavus stands in the single list of candidates to the parliament, composed by the United Democratic Forces. His candidacy has been nominated by the NGO For Free Development of Business. Mr. Charnavus intends to run at Baranavichy western electoral district #5. He states that the authorities started harassing him for it. At present he is deprived of the building side for a café.

10.07.2008 79% of state TV poll believe that the Belarusian authorities stand behind 4 July blast

In the morning of 10 July the web-site of the ONT state TV channel held the public poll concerning the organization of the bomb blast during the celebration of the official Independence Day. 79% of respondents (640 persons) consider that the blast has been organized by the authorities, 10% voted for hooligans, 7% - for terrorists. The smallest number of votes was given for the opposition – 3,7% (30 persons). All in all, 810 persons took part in the poll before 11.25 a.m. when it was removed from the site.

10.07.2008 Blast news: Detention term extended to Miraslau Lazouski

Miraslau Lazouski, former member of the underground sportive patriotic organization White Legion, was detained within the frames of the criminal case which had been brought on the fact of the bomb blast in the night of 3-4 July during the celebration of the official Independence Day in Minsk.

10.07.2008 Five persons are arrested in connection with Minsk blast

Many electronic mass media continue informing that four former activists of the underground organization White Legion, Siarzhuk Chyslau, Ihar Korsak, Miraslau Lazouski and Viktar Liashchynski, have been arrested within the frames of the criminal case which has been brought on the fact of the bomb blast during the official concert in the night of 3-4 July.

10.07.2008 Mahiliou: democratic activists state their intention to be present during the formation of electoral commissions

The local democratic activists have addressed the authorities of Mahiliou with the request to inform them about the place and time of the sitting of Mahiliou oblast executive committee and the presidium of Mahiliou oblast soviet of deputies at which the lists of members of electoral commissions will be adopted.

10.07.2008 Mahiliou oblast: about 100 candidates are nominated to electoral commissions

As said by Yury Masiuk, main specialist of the staff department of Mahiliou oblast executive committee, the majority of the nominees are presented by the pro-governmental ‘state NGO’ Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM) and the veteran association. There are also nominees from political parties and those who were nominated by collection of citizens’ signatures. It is quite interesting to see, who of the nominees will be included in the electoral commissions by Mahiliou oblast authorities.

10.07.2008 Another ‘electoral campaign’ to start in Belarus on 14 July

The campaign on election to the Soviet of the Republic is to start on 14 July, said the secretary of the Central Electoral Commission Mikalai Lazavik.

10.07.2008 Police detain Anton Koipish

As a result of a search at Koipish’s apartment the police confiscated a computer system block. Then Koipish was guarded to the investigative department in Sapiorau Street 7 in Minsk.

10.07.2008 Hooliganism or intimidation?

In the night of 8 July unknown persons have smashed the windows in the car belonging to a Hrodna politician, member of the BPF Party Siarhei Antusevich. Mr. Antusevich is going to run to the parliament at Hrodna central electoral district #50.

10.07.2008 Brest oblast: BSDP ‘Hramada’ nominates candidates to electoral commissions

According to Ihar Maslouski, head of Brest oblast organization of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada, 26 candidatures for inclusion to the 16 district electoral commissions have been passed to Brest oblast executive committee. What concerns polling station commissions, the party members want to nominate their representatives to the majority of them (more than 20 out of about 40 at each electoral district). The candidates to the electoral commissions will be nominated both on behalf of the party and by collection of signatures among citizens.

10.07.2008 Belarus officially invites BDIHR OSCE to the parliamentary elections

On 9 July in the evening the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus sent official invitation to the Bureau of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the OSCE for monitoring of the parliamentary elections in Belarus.