The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 12 Jan 2009

12.01.2009 Death Penalty in Belarus

The right to life is a fundamental human right. The state must protect human life from all unlawful attempts and other threats and provide legal, social, economical, ecological and other conditions for a normal and worthy life.

12.01.2009 Authorities disrupt parents’ assembly at St.Symon and Alena Church

An assembly of the parents whose children study in Poland on Kalinouski educational program (organized for the people who were expelled from Belarusian high schools because of their political activities) was to have taken place at St. Symon and Alena Church in Minsk at 11 a.m.

12.01.2009 Salihorsk: police detain trade union activist

On 12 December in Salihorsk the police detained an activist of the independent trade union of radio-electronic industry (ITUREI) Mikalai Pakhabau.

12.01.2009 Ideological department bans ‘Nasha Niva’ advertisement in tube

In December, after the Belarusian authorities agreed to return Nasha Niva to newsstands and to the official subscription catalog, the editorial office of the newspaper applied to the advertisement service of Minsk tube for placing an advertisement there.

12.01.2009 Brest authorities ban pickets

Recently the civil activists Raman Kisliak, Iryna Laurouskaya and Dzianis Turchyniak have received from Brest city executive committee an answer to their application for authorization of a series of pickets.

12.01.2009 Criminal case against Kurapaty vandals is dropped

Barauliany branch of Minsk district police department dropped the criminal case against the two youngsters who were detained on the eve of Dziady holiday (ancestors’ day, celebrated on 2 November) for breaking memorial crosses in Kurapaty wood, where many people were shot during Stalin’s rule.

12.01.2009 ‘Young Front’ activist Ivan Shyla is drafted into army

Ivan Shyla, deputy head of Salihorsk branch of Young Front, was found fit for military service. He was guarded to the military enlistment office.

12.01.2009 Anti-nuclear action in Salihorsk

On 12 January Salihorsk activists of the civil campaign European Belarus held a picket against construction of an atomic power station in Belarus.

12.01.2009 Baranavichy: entrepreneurs protest

On 12 December at 12 a.m. a protest of small entrepreneurs took place in Baranavichy in Lenin Square near the building of town executive committee. The people protested against the increase of taxes and payment for trade places.

12.01.2009 ‘European Belarus’ activists get arrested for handing out porridge

On 11 January activists of the civil campaign European Belarus unfurled a poster Crisis came to country! Handout! and brought a 25-liter pot of buckwheat porridge near Kamarouski Market of Minsk.