24.04.2009 Nasha Viasna to apply for registration for the last time

On 25 April the founders of the Nasha Viasna human rights organization are going to apply to the Ministry of Justice for registration for a third time. At the same time, they stress that this attempt will be the last, even in case the application is turned down again. ‘If the state represented by the Ministry of Justice is not ready, does not want or cannot register human rights NGOs, it will be a problem for the state itself. We can perform human rights activities without official registration. It is our legal right, guaranteed by the Constitution and the international human rights standards,’ said the human rights activist and one of Nasha Viasna’s co-founders Valiantsin Stefanovich.

24.04.2009 Human rights activist Sazonau warned by KGB

This morning Viktar Sazonau, democratic activist and human rights experts from Hrodna, was visited by two KGB agents who served a writ upon the activist and took him to Hrodna Regional KGB Office. There he was warned of possible criminal prosecution for further political activities under Article 342 of the Criminal Code – ‘organizing or active participation in group actions, which brutally violate public order.’ Viktar Sazonau thinks the warning is a means of psychological pressure and intimidation.

24.04.2009 KGB got interested in “For Independence!” opposition march

KGB officers visited a plant yesterday, where “Young Front” activist Anton Rusin works.

“I asked them to introduce themselves, and one of them answered ‘I can introduce my self so that you will be fired and won’t find a job anywhere,’” the activist told the “Young Front” press service.

Unknown people in mufti were asking Anton Rusin about the “Young Front”, its leaders, “For Independence!” march prepared by the organization. The youth leader refused to answer the questions.

24.04.2009 Mikalai Autukhovich: “Draw attention to egregious lawlessness in Belarus”

The text of the statement by the political prisoner on hunger strike has been sent to the Charter’97 press center.

Mikalai Autukhovich, the arrested businessman from Vaukavysk, has been on hunger strike in the pre-trial detection center of the militia department of the Minsk city executive committee since April 16. It should be reminded that businessmen Yury Lyavonau, Mikalai Autukovich, and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained on February 8. Their detention and search in their flats were authorized by the prosecutor of the Hrodna region. On February 18, the three businessmen were charged under article 218 of the Criminal Code (intentional destruction or damage to property of citizens).