27.03.2009 Supreme Court to entertain claim by Nasha Viasna

Today on 27 March the co-founders of the Nasha Viasna human rights organization received a letter from the Supreme Court of Belarus saying that the complaint against the unlawful refusal to register the NGO was received for consideration by the court. The session is due to start on 7 April. On 26 February the Ministry of Justice resolved to deny registration to Nasha Viasna. The cofounders of the organization stress that the decision was groundless and illegal. They also claim it is an evidence of systematic discrimination against the founders and the members of Nasha Viasna, as well as a sign of disrespect for the rights of Belarusian citizens.

27.03.2009 Protest action of entrepreneurs in Mahilou: tax increase cancelled

The result of the today’s meeting of entrepreneurs was that the Mahilou region executive committee suspended operation of a regulation of the region council on single tax and value added tax increase.

About 300 entrepreneurs came in the morning to Lenin square in Mahiou near the building of the region executive committee protesting against tax increase, Radio Svaboda reports.

27.03.2009 Vitsebsk oppositionists fined for celebrating Freedom Day

A judge found violations of the law on mass events in the fact that three men had come to a square with white-red-white flags.

Activist of the Conservative Christian Party-Belarusian Popular Front Syarhei Kavalenka was fined 700,000 rubles, Ihar Bazarau and Valer Alyaksandrau – 70,000 rubles, Radio Svaboda reports.

27.03.2009 Oppositionist arrested for independent press distributing

Militia officers in Hrodna detained Mikola Bausyuk, activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, who was distributing information bulletins among city dwellers.

Radio Racyja learnt about Mikola Basyuk’s detention from BCD co-chairman Paval Sevyarynets.

“Mikola Bausyuk was distributing a newspaper of the Belarusian Christian Democracy at the market. Usually in such cases militia detain activists, draw a report and set them free. But Mikola Bausyuk was guarded to the Kastrychnitski district militia department allegedly for a conversation with a chief,” he told.