The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for December 2008

18.12.2008 Ministry of Internal Affairs responded to human rights activists’ address to Lukashenka

In his letter to the activists of Brest region, deputy head of the main department for law and order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs claims, everything was fine with the rights of women prisoners in Belarus.

18.12.2008 “Petty hooligans” do not refuse from having rally

This morning, on December 18th, Brest regional court began another hearing of the cassation complaint on the case of “petty hooligans”.

17.12.2008 Arrests for national flag in front of regional executive committee

Yesterday, on the Day of Solidarity, Vitebsk activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” flew white-red-white flags in front of the building of the regional executive committee.

17.12.2008 BPF party activist detained, all information materials seized

On December 16 an activist of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Yauhen Soshka who planned to hand out the special edition of the bulletin of the regional party organization was detained in Brest.

17.12.2008 Movement for Freedom registered

Today the Ministry of Justice handed over an official certificate of registration to the leaders of the “Movement for Freedom”.

16.12.2008 Five youth activists detained in Minsk

Five youth activists of Young Belarus movement were detained in Minsk.<0}

16.12.2008 Riot police detained church minister for evangelization

Minister of New Life Church (Full Gospel Churches Association) Siarhei Lukanin was detained by riot policemen for evangelization in Minsk.

16.12.2008 Prosecutor's General office issues official warning for newspaper article

The Prosecutor's General office officially warned Anatol Liabedzka and Mikhail Pashkevich

16.12.2008 KGB officers blackmail activist’s mother

KGB officers threatened the mother of Young Front member Yulian Misiukevich with expulsion of her son from university if she refused to appear on BT state TV channel.

16.12.2008 Decision about Ivan Shyla’s ability to serve in military postponed

The sitting of the medical commission, which is to make a decision about Ivan Shyla’s ability to serve in the military, is postponed again.

16.12.2008 Young Front members receive reprimand

Young Front activists Tatsiana Shaputska and Nasta Loika, law students of Belarusian State University, were reprimanded for participation in an unsanctioned picket near Dzerzhynski’s monument on November 7th.

16.12.2008 Another Detention for Distributing "Novy Chas"

Distributor of independent newspaper detained at local administration

15.12.2008 Three Polish priests will have to leave Belarus

According to the ruling of the Committee on the affairs of nations and religious, three Polish priests working on the territory of Hrodna diocese will have to leave the country as their terms of stay are not extended.

15.12.2008 Vitsebsk: unlawful placement to psychiatric hospital

On 11 December 15-year-old schoolboy Maxim Andreyeu was placed to the closed department of Vitsebsk oblast psychiatric hospital athwart his will and without parents’ agreement. On 12 December he was proposed sign in the anamnesis (allegedly that he is already 15 years old). As it was found later, he signed under ‘agreement to placement in the psychiatric hospital).

15.12.2008 Minsk: detention for distribution of independent press

On 15 December the police detained the activists of the Young Front Yuliyan Misiukevich and Aliaksei Savinkou for distribution of the Young Front newspapers Svislatskaye Recha and flags with inscriptions ‘Let MTS be in Belarusian!’