26.05.2009 Oppositionists went to law against city executive committee

Pro-democracy activists from Homel demand to declare illegitimate the decision of the city executive committee to ban a meeting dedicated to the 23th anniversary of Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster.

On May 25 Arkadzy Kaluhin, a judge of the Central court of Homel, postponed consideration of the suit proceedings in the action of pro-democracy activists Uladzimir Katsora and Uladzimir Syakerka against city executive committee concerning illegal banning the rally dedicated to the Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster anniversary, Radio Svaboda informs.

26.05.2009 PACE Political Affairs Committee vote to restore Special Guest status for Belarus

The Political Affairs Committee of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) on May 26 voted to restore Special Guest status in PACE for a delegation from Belarus, which was suspended in 1997, BelaPAN said.

The committee unanimously adopted a report by Andrea Rigoni of Italy on the situation in Belarus.

Mr. Rigoni, who is PACE’s rapporteur on Belarus, proposed that the status be restored provided a mechanism was found for the Belarusian delegation to include representatives of the “extra-parliamentary opposition.”

Goran Lindblad, chairman of the committee who visited Belarus in February, said following that visit that PACE “wants to bring Belarus closer to Council of Europe standards.”

26.05.2009 Nasha Viasna still awaiting reply from Ministry of Justice

May 25th was the deadline for the Ministry of Justice to reply to the application of the Nasha Viasna human rights organization. However, Nasha Viasna’s registration is still undecided. This is Nasha Viasna’s third attempt to obtain the official status. The human rights have repeatedly stressed this would be their last application, even in case it is not satisfied.

26.05.2009 Artur Finkevich: “Secret services try to intimidate young people, but they are to fail”

The leader of the “Young Belarus” Artur Finkevich lodged a legal application to the prosecutor’s office of Zavadski district of Minsk with a request to find and bring to account persons who called him on the phone threatening bodily harm.

Artur Finkevich has also commented to the Charter’97 press-centre the threats received by him from an unknown person last Friday. As we have informed, Finkevich received a call on his mobile phone with demands to stop his political activities.