24.09.2009 No progress in relations between civil society and state, says NGO Assembly

The Belarusian Assembly of NGOs has issued its preliminary assessment of the regime’s activities in terms of improving the situation in the field of NGOs in the context of expiry of another period of EU sanctions towards Belarus. During a briefing for representatives of international missions and journalists, Siarhei Matskevich, head of the Assembly’s Working Group, stated that there is no progress in respect of the three issues highlighted by the European Union – the repeal of Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code, the obstacles experienced by NGOs applying for state registration and the introduction of reduced rent rates for them.

24.09.2009 Plainclothes militiamen tried to guard journalist to prosecutor’s office

On September 23, an attempt to break into the apartment of a Radio Racyja correspondent from Brest Zmitser Kisel was made.

The journalist connects this incident with his professional activities and an attempt to guard him to a local prosecutor’s office, Radio Racyja reports.

Two unknown men in mufti tried to break into the apartment of Zmitser Kisel in the morning. They told the journalist they were going to guard him to the prosecutor’s office.

“These two men said I must have gone to the prosecutor’s office with them,” the journalist reminds.

24.09.2009 Belarusian regime afraid of independent courts

The authorities say they don’t plan to establish the jury institution in Belarus.

Valery Kalinkovich, the deputy head of the Supreme Court of Belarus, said this on September 24.

“The judicial system of Belarus is regularly reformed, but such innovations, as the jury court, are not planned,” Interfax quotes Valery Kalinkovich.

He also noted that the national modern judicial system meets all requirements of time and emphasized that “one must find something inefficient to start reforming”.

“We have never liked too many reforms,” Kalinkovich added.

The website www.charter97.org reminds that Alyaksandr Lukashenka defines power of the Constitutional Court of Belarus by his decrees (it is officially called accretion of power), appoints and dismisses judges. Many trials over Belarusian opposition activists are held behind closed doors. Journalists, Belarusian and foreign human rights activists are not allowed to attend many trials.

Participants of a peaceful rally “No to Russian Occupation!” have recently stood closed political trials in Minsk. 17 opposition activists were detained and beaten up by militia.

24.09.2009 Experts on freedom of speech didn’t believe Pyatkevich

The international journalistic mission has a negative general impression of its visit to Belarus.

The international experts will make an official statement later, “”Yezhednevnik” reports.

Though representatives of international organizations dealing with mass media and freedom of press issues have repeatedly emphasized the aim of the visit wasn’t proving the Belarusians necessity of democratic reforms, but just lending support to national media, the guests have a negative general impression.

It especially concerns meetings with Belarusian officials. European director of the International Federation of Journalists Marc Gruber said telling about the meeting with first deputy head of Lukashenka’s Administration Natallya Pyatkevich they had failed to understand each other.

23.09.2009 Amnesty International addresses Lukashenka on Viasna's case

Amnesty International has written to President Alyaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus to express its concern that the human rights organization, Nasha Vyasna (Our Spring), formerly known as Vyasna, has been denied registration by the Belarusian authorities for the third time. On 12 August 2009 the Supreme Court of Belarus upheld a decision taken by the Ministry of Justice on 28 May to refuse registration to Nasha Vyasna.

23.09.2009 Belarusian Helsinki Committee to consider dispersals of peaceful rallies with Ministry of Interior

In his interview with the BelaPAN news agency, Aleh Hulak, head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, said that the NGO had addressed Minister of the Interior Anatol Kuliashou with a proposition to hold a meeting to consider the complicated situation with the systematic violent dispersals of peaceful opposition rallies. ‘The Belarusian Helsinki Committee members believe that the dispersals and the use of violence against peaceful demonstrators by the police are unlawful, abusing their right to the freedom of assembly. We think that a meeting with Mr.Kuliashou will be the most efficient means of addressing the situation in the field of freedom of peaceful assembly’ said Mr.Hulak.

23.09.2009 Labour Party to sue Ministry of Justice

The founders of the Belarusian Labour Party have lodged a complaint with the Supreme Court against the Ministry of Justice, who suspended the party’s registration, says BLP leader Aliaksandr Bukhvostau. By appealing the decision, the party hopes that the Ministry of Justice ‘stops conducting repressive inspections of the party’s registration documents,’ says Mr.Bukhvostau.

23.09.2009 Over 50 politicians, civil and cultural figures sign address to General Prosecutor’s Office

Over 50 Belarusian politicians, civil and cultural figures have signed an address to the General Prosecutor’s Office, demanding to initiate a criminal case, following President Lukashenka’s statement, admitting the 2006 presidential election was rigged. ‘We would like to address every organization concerned with reforming the existing electoral legislation, with a demand to sign the statement. Lukashenka’s declarations in his interview with the Izvestiya newspaper are an open challenge to both Belarusian politicians and ordinary citizens, and the civilized international community. Lack of response would mean accepting the role of silent creatures.’ The statement will be lodged with the Prosecutor’s Office on 24 September, says one of the initiators of the campaign and UCPB leader Anatol Liabedzka.

23.09.2009 Human rights activists call on international community to address ‘political drafts’ issue

A number of Belarusian and foreign human rights activists have issued a statement calling on the international community to address the issue of politically-motivated drafts as a means of harassing Belarusian political and civil activists. The human rights defenders urge international human rights organizations and major politicians ‘to do their best to put an end to the illegal practice and prevent it from turning into a system of pressure and isolation used against the politically active youth of Belarus.’

23.09.2009 Independent journalist warned for cooperation with Belsat again

Aleh Razhkou has received a second official warning from the regional prosecutor’s office “for activities on behalf of Belsat”.

The BelaPAN reminds that the journalist received the first warning in February 2009 with the same wording.

Aleh Razhkou was told in the prosecutor’s office that it is inadmissible to work for foreign mass media without accreditation by the Foreign Ministry. As informed by the journalist, on September 22 he was summoned to the Prosecutor’s office of Homel region. A worker of the prosecutor’s office Alesya Rabtsava told to the journalist that an appeal was lodged against him from the head doctor of the regional mental health clinic.

23.09.2009 US condemn human rights violations in Belarus

The United States are still deeply concerned by violations in Belarus.

It has been stated by the US representative Douglas Griffin at the session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

As said by the diplomat, Belarus is among the countries which cause highest concern in connection with crackdown on peaceful protests, threats to activities of human rights activists and oppositionists, oppression of minorities, alongside with Afghanistan, Burma, Cuba, Iran, Russia and Sri Lanka, the website of “European Belarus” informs.

22.09.2009 Brest Viasna to apply for registration again

As a result of a founding congress of the Brest Viasna human rights organization on 18 September, the NGO members arrived at a decision to apply for state registration for the fifth time. However, some of the activists say the application is likely to be turned down again.

22.09.2009 Maksim Viniarski fined BYR 1 mln.

Judge Aksana Reliava of Minsk Savetski Court has found European Belarus activist Maskim Viniarski guilty of violating Article 23.34 of the Civil Code (violating the regulations of holding mass actions) and fined him BYR 1,050,000.

22.09.2009 Vitsebsk BPF office members protest against rally restrictions

Kastus Smolikau, head of the BPF’s Vitsebsk regional office, has lodged a complaint with Vitsebsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office, urging the local authorities to reverse the restrictions on demonstrations procedures. The activist says the decision by Vitsebsk city authorities is unlawful, since it restricts the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, by limiting the number of authorized locations for holding mass actions to three places on the outskirts of the city. Besides, the decision fails to regulate indoor meetings, which, in reality, is a ban on holding such assemblies.

22.09.2009 Foreign human rights activist refused Belarusian visa

Joanna Kurocz, member of the Civil Rights Defenders international organization, has not been allowed to receive a Belarusian visa, say representatives of an international journalists’ mission, currently on a visit to Belarus. During their stay in Minsk, the journalists have had a number of meetings with representatives of Belarusian mass media, both independent and state-owned ones. They were also invited to a meeting with Deputy Chair of the President’s Administration Natallia Piatkevich. The results of the visit will be reported during a final briefing at the International Education Center on 23 September.