22.06.2009 BAJ holds round table discussion on construction of nuclear power plant in Belarus

The Belarusian Association of Journalists has held a round table discussion on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Astravets district, Hrodna region. The meeting was aimed at attracting international attention to Belarus’ abidance by the Aarhus Convention. The seminar was attended by a number of experts and analysts, as well as journalists. The participants of the discussion arrived at a decision that the main issue is not the security of the construction, but the lack of experts in the field of nuclear engineering in Belarus.

22.06.2009 Activist detained for distributing independent newspaper

On 20 June the police arrested Anatol Yurevich, resident of the village of Pilnia, Slutsk district, for distributing the Narodnaya Volia newspaper, despite its free distribution license. The activist was taken to the local police department and later released. Mr.Yurevich says he is going to lodge a complaint against the policemen with the local prosecutor’s office.

22.06.2009 Oppositionists fined for disobeying police

Two Vitsebsk youth activists Aliaksei Pilevich and Kastus Ivanou have been fined BYR 700,000 each for failing to produce their passports and resisting arrest during the 26 Chernobyl Shliakh demonstration, Judge Valiantsina Kismiaroshkina basing her verdict on the evidence provided by the police. According to Aliaksei Pilevich, the police had been aware of the rally and tried to break it by patrolling downtown Vitsebsk. The activist was stopped and asked to produce his personal belongings. Mr.Pilevich refused to do so, claiming the search was illegal. Kastus Ivanou is also sure that the fines were groundless since he was arrested by plainclothes policemen, which was mentioned in the arrest records.

22.06.2009 European Union and Belarusian regime started dialogue on human rights

On 16-17 June 2009, the European Union and Belarus held the first round of human rights dialogue in Prague.

The dialogue was held in a constructive and open atmosphere.

The dialogue allowed an exchange of views on the human rights situation both in Belarus and in the EU, focusing in particular on freedom of assembly and association, including labour rights, freedom of expression and information, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, combating different forms of intolerance and hate crimes, rights of migrants and persons belonging to minorities, combating trafficking of human beings, protection of different vulnerable groups, situation in prisons and detention facilities, death penalty.

22.06.2009 Belarusian oppositionists arrested for EU symbols

Arrests for EU symbols go on even on the day of Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner visit.

In the evening June 21, activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Aleh Ladutska and Uladzimir Kumets were on the intersection of Plekhanov Street and Rokossovsky Avenue.

The guys were pasting posters calling to join the civil campaign “European Belarus”. Their actions were noticed by militiamen, who drove up, got out of the car, and searched the guys. They found some posters with EU symbols on Aleh Ladutska. After that the oppositionists were guarded to the Leninski district militia department of Minsk.

22.06.2009 Ferrero-Waldner: EU took off rose-coloured glasses long ago

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, started her visit to Minsk with a meeting with representatives of the opposition and the civil society.

In the morning June 22, Benita Ferrero-Waldner met with Stanislau Shushkevich, former chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus and leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada; former political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin; head of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka; leader of the Belarusian Party of Communists Syarhei Kalyakin; deputy head of the BPF party Vintsuk Vyachorka.