The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 18 Jun 2009

18.06.2009 Baranavichy authorities mitigate rally procedures

Baranavichy Town Executive Committee has resolved to reform the procedures for holding mass actions in the town by freeing local civil activists of their duty to pay public security, medicine and fire brigade expenses in advance. According to the lawyer Siarhei Housha, the activists have achieved a little victory. ‘We insisted that the regional board of judges initiate changes to the legislation on mass actions. We must not sign contracts with the police, fire brigades etc. It is the task of the authorities, since the work of the officials is paid with the help of the taxes contributed by every working citizen,’ said Mr.Housha.

18.06.2009 Zinaida Hanchar persistent about investigation

Zinaida Hanchar, widow of the disappeared politician Viktar Hanchar, has addressed Mrs. Giovanna Zucchelli, secretary of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, with a letter demanding to oblige the Belarusian authorities to provide comments on the information stated by President Lukashenka during his recent interview with a number of Russian mass media. In her letter, Mrs. Hanchar says that ‘the recent communication by the Belarusian government of 3 February 2009 states that the investigation of the disappearance of Mr. Hanchar has been extended till 24 March 2009 and that so far the prosecutor does not have any new information on the matter.’ However, in his interview with the Zavtra Russian newspaper of 10 June 2009, President Lukashenka named a number of reasons for the murder of the persons, who are still considered missing.

18.06.2009 Dutch politicians concerned over harassment of Belarusian gays

According to the Dutch minister of foreign affairs Maxime Verhagen, the Netherlands, the EU and other European bodies are deeply concerned about the persecution of Belarusian sexual minorities. ‘The Netherlands will keep monitoring the situation in the field of human rights in Belarus, including the rights of sexual and other minorities,’ said Mr.Verhagen in his reply to a letter by a number of Dutch MPs, who expressed their concern about the issue.

18.06.2009 Head of Lukashenka’s administration Makei speaks on death penalty moratorium

Uladzimir Makei, head of the Administration of President Lukashenka, has promised to declare a moratorium on executing death penalties in Belarus in case the country establishes close relationships with the Council of Europe. ‘In case Belarus decides to join the Council of Europe, we will have to raise the issue of introducing a moratorium on the death penalty,’ says Mr.Makei. ‘The issue of the death penalty should not be considered as something stiff. I have had a meeting with Mr.Rigoni, PACE Special Rapporteur on Belarus, and we were discussing the issue for a long time. We have already reduced the number of criminal articles providing for the death penalty, and in practice the sentence has begun to be seldom used.

18.06.2009 Andżelika Borys’ associates not allowed to take part in Union of Poles’ congress

Some 100 members of the Union of Poles in Belarus, with Andżelika Borys at head, were not allowed to take part in the congress of the national minority organization on 12 June in Hrodna. As a result, the activists addressed President Lukashenka with a demand to facilitate the dialogue between the authorities and the Union, which is not recognized by the regime.