24.02.2009 Solidarity picket held in Minsk

On 23 February several activists of the Young Front unregistered youth organizations held a picket of solidarity with Artsiom Dubski, one of the persons involved in the notorious ‘case of 14’, in downtown Minsk. Earlier this year the general prosecutor’s office initiated a criminal prosecution of the activist for cell communication fraud. Artsiom Dubski was arrested on 13 February as he was crossing the Ukrainian border and taken to Babruisk detention center. He was accused of evading the verdict. The trial is due on 3 March. The peaceful rally was not stopped by the police. The activist’s party-mates said they were going to hold similar actions daily unless Dubski is released.

24.02.2009 Franak Vyachorka was beaten on day he was called up

The military prosecutor’s office admitted the fact of beating of the leader of the “BPF Youth” on the day he was called up.

Father of the opposition activist, deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front Vintsuk Vyachorka, received an answer to his complaint of January 29 from the Minsk inter-garrison prosecutor’s office.

The answer, signed by lieutenant colonel of justice A. Vasilyuk, deputy head of the Minsk inter-garrison military prosecutor, informed Vintsuk Vyachorka that he was denied instigation of a criminal case against staff of the recruiting center of the Savetski district and the 432nd Main military clinic medical center on the ground using physical force and abuse of power.

24.02.2009 Zmitser Khvedaruk to be operated today

Forcefully drafted into army “Young Front” activist Zmitser Khvedaruk is at Republican Military Hospital in Minsk.

As Charter’97 press center has learnt from the activist is to be operated on varicose veins today.

“At first I was taken to hospital in Barysau, where doctors said they would operate me only on April 14, because they didn’t have enough places. Later, when I returned to the military unit, I was sent to Minsk to undergo analyses, and they decided to operate me today,” Zmitser Khvedaruk said.

24.02.2009 Pickets in support of political prisoners near pre-trial detention center in Valadarski Street

Pickets of solidarity with new political prisoners continue to take place near the pre-trial detention center of city militia department of the Minsk city executive committee.

At 6.00 p.m. February 23, activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” came to the pre-trial detention center in Valadarski Street. They held portraits of Maksim Dashuk, a new Belarusian political prisoner, arrested on Monday. In spite of attempts of riot militia to stop it, the picket lasted for 30 minutes, as it was planned.

23.02.2009 Valyantsin Stefanovich: Any convicted in Process of Fourteen could become next arrested

A well-known Belarusian human rights activist has commented to the Cgarter’97 press-centre the arrest of the underage participant of the Process of Fourteen Maxim Dashuk.

“As it turned out today, another political prisoner Maxim Dashuk was arrested,” Valyantsin Stefanovich said. “It is important to note that since the case of Shydlouski-Labkovich minors haven’t been arrested on political grounds (minors Alyaksei Shydlouski and Vadzim Labkovich were arrested on August 25, 1997 for painting “political” graffiti on the walls of housed in the town of Staubtsy, Minsk region, and for removing the state flag from the building of Staubsty district executive committee. – Charter’97). And Dashuk and Dubski were seized on political motives. They were persecuted for participation in the rally of market vendors on January 10, 2008, for expression of their position, realizing their right for freedom of expression”.

23.02.2009 Aliaksandr Milinkevich speaks in support of Nasha Viasna

Aliaksandr Milinkevich, Belarusian politician who was nominated by the leading opposition parties in Belarus to run against Lukashenka in the presidential election on 19 March 2006, commented on the situation with the registration of the Nasha Viasna human rights organization. ‘Nasha Viasna is the leading Belarusian human rights NGO with an excellent history. Its members specialize in various kinds of human rights activities – monitoring human rights violations, providing assistance to individuals and organizations. And I think it is very important that this association be granted registration.

23.02.2009 Europarliament delegations says Belarus keeps violating human rights

Lithuanian MEP Laima Liucija Andrikiene, who initiated the visit, told reporters that they had come to see the situation in Belarus with their own eyes. She described the visit as brief, intensive and important.

According to her, within six hours, the delegation met with the ambassadors of EU member countries; Dzmitry Yermalyuk, head of the Belarusian foreign ministry’s European integration department; Uladzimir Serpikaw, director of the ministry’s European cooperation department; Zhanna Litvina, chair of the Belarusian Association of Journalists; and opposition leaders, including Vintsuk Vyachorka, Pavel Sevyarynets and former presidential candidates Alyaksandr Milinkevich and Alyaksandr Kazulin.

23.02.2009 Maksim Dashuk prosecuted again

One of the persons involved in the so called ‘case of 14’ Maksim Dashuk has been detained and put to Minsk investigatory detention center. He is accused of violating Article 415 of the criminal Code of Belarus for evading the completion of sentence. He is likely to remain in prison until the trial. The under-aged Maksim Dashuk had previously been sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment for participating in the 10 January 2008 action. According to representatives of the police, Dashuk had repeatedly broken the house arrest regime.

23.02.2009 Babruiski kurier under pressure from Ministry of Information

According to a letter received by the Ministry of Information, the Ministry has promised to ‘take measures’ against the editorial board of the Babruiski kurier independent newspaper in case it ‘continues to violate the legislation’. The threat is based on a claim by Barusik town authorities stating that the newspaper ‘groundlessly forms a negative public opinion of the local authorities’ and offense the honour and dignity of the police. The Ministry asserts that the newspaper ‘distorts the facts and makes groundless generalizations.’ It also reminds that the Babruiski kurier has already received a warning and a second warning may result in its liquidation.

23.02.2009 Activists detained for celebrating Mother Language Day

Homel Thsentralny Borough Court sentenced Kastus Zhukouski to 7 days of arrest for participating in a Mother Language Day action in downtown Homel. Vasil Takarenka, Marysia Tulzankova and Ales Viartseika were fined BYR 700,000 each. The teenagers were standing in the center of Homel holding posters with the words ‘Mother Tongue’ and a Russian phrase ‘Banned’ across. Their mouths were covered with green and red ribbons. NB: International Mother Language Day, celebrated annually on February 21, aims to promote the recognition and practice of the world’s mother tongues, particularly minority ones.

23.02.2009 Belarusian border guards search EHU students

Activist of the “Young Front” Zmitser Yasevich, returning to Belarus after an exam session in European Humanities University, was searched on the border.

Zmitser’s personal belongings were examined carefully, border guards were especially interested in information in his laptop.

After a search border guards asked Zmitser where he lived and studied – in what university, on which faculty, they even asked how the activist passed the session.

“They obviously had an order for a search – a female border guard spoke with someone before the search,” Zmitser Yasevich says. “I faced such unpleasant searched before, but this has been the first one, for a period of the “liberalization”, for the last six months.”

20.02.2009 Dzmitry Zavadski’s mother speaks in support of Nasha Viasna

Volha Zavadskaya, the mother of the disappeared journalist Dzmitry Zavadski, has expressed her support of the founders and the members of the Nasha Viasna human rights association. ‘I have known Viasna for 10 years already. I am very glad that the organization keeps working. Its members have provided a lot of legal assistance. I am very sorry they lost their legal status in 2003. I think it intolerable that the organization cannot obtain registration. Every citizen of Belarus has a right to protect his or her rights, and organizations that help us do this should exist legally. So I am for the registration of Nasha Viasna in Belarus.’

20.02.2009 Vandals to escape punishment?

Minsk city police department has initiated an investigation into the cases of defilement of the Kurapaty memorial forest on the outskirts of Minsk on 1 November 2008. According to head of Minsk regional investigation department Dzmitry Siarchenia, the investigation will last for at least a month. On 11 January 2009 Minsk district police suspended the criminal case against two youngsters accused of defiling the memorial. However, in late January 2009 Deputy Prosecutor General of Minsk district resolved to recommence the prosecution due to the absence of the delinquent.

20.02.2009 Catholic priest fined

On 20 February Lelchytsy district court fined Catholic priest Vital Myshona BYR 105,000 for failing to follow the rulings by the local geodetic department following the installation of a cross in the town of Lelchytsy. The priest was accused of unauthorized installation of a Catholic cross.

20.02.2009 Will Young Front be finally registered?

Over 30 Belarusian towns have received applications from the Young Front movement, asking for permission to hold a constituent assembly so that the organization’s local offices can obtain legal addresses. It is Young Front’s fifth attempt to receive state registration. ‘The Ministry of Justice has declared a campaign of registration of Belarusian NGOs. Most of them are local pro-government initiatives receiving official status from local authorities. The Belarusian authorities seem to be showing their willingness to develop and liberalize the civil and political spheres. So Young Front has arrived at a decision to initiate another attempt to obtain registration starting from its local offices. The decision by local authorities will be an evidence of their evidence to start a genuine dialogue with the society,’ says Young Front Chair Zmitser Dashkevich.