19.10.2009 Capitally convicted person pleas for mercy

On 16 October the lawyer of Vasil Yuzepchuk, sentenced to death penalty for alleged murder of six elderly women, has lodged an appeal for pardon with President Lukashenka. The convict asks to spare his life, due to possible future circumstances that may prove his innocence. In case the verdict is executed, and such circumstances are established, is will not be able to be corrected. Belarusian human rights activists have expressed their concern over the upcoming execution.

19.10.2009 Psychiatric abuse in action

The Hanchar family of the town of Krasnapolle, Mahiliou region, has called upon Belarusian human rights activists and independent journalists to help protect their under-age daughter from psychiatry abuse, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. The Hanchars claim that their daughter Liudmila is about to be hospitalized by order of local police. According to Liudmila’s elder sister Volha, two policemen accompanied by a psychiatrist paid a visit to the family’s apartment to hospitalize the girl, claiming that she needed immediate medical intervention due to ‘severe mental disorder’, cause by a school incident a year ago, when the girl was badly beaten by her classmates.

19.10.2009 Maxim Vinyarski: “Detention in Akrestsin Street prison is torture”

Activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Maxim Vinyarski has spent 2 days in prison for dissemination of information about political prisoners.

He told about incarceration conditions to “European Belarus” website.

“Incarceration conditions are very difficult. It was extremely cold. Maybe for the sake of reforming inmates, windows in the corridors were opened as well, and it created a draught. Heating was not on. Such a detention is a torture. They treated me boorishly. Not only me, but all the detained. Prison administration acquaints all those who arrive with the rules and demand to stick to them without fail.

19.10.2009 Lyabedzka demands bring Minsk riot militiamen to criminal responsibility

The head of the United Civil Party referred to Prosecutor General of Belarus Ryhor Vasilevich.

Anatol Lyabedzka demands to organize investigation over the facts of unlawful actions of law enforcement officers and bring them to criminal responsibility, BelaPAN reports.

A ground for the appeal was forceful dispersal of a picket of solidarity held on October square of Minsk on October 16.

Anatol Lyabedzka was beaten up by militia officers during dispersal of the rally and guarding the detained to the Tsentralny district militia department.

19.10.2009 Action of solidarity dispersed brutally

The picket of solidarity in Minsk has been dispersed unprecedentedly brutally. 30 oppositionists were beaten up and arrested. Journalists were beaten as well, militia didn’t let them film this brutality.

More than a hundred of riot militiamen were thrown against the people, who came to October square in Minsk on Solidarity Day on October 16. No sooner had the protesters unfurled portrait of the political prisoners, they were beaten. A part of demonstrators sat on the ground in protest, they were beaten at first, and then forced into buses with the rest. It took only some minutes to arrest the demonstrators.

19.10.2009 New Gross Violations of Journalists’ Rights in Minsk

Journalists who were covering a street Solidarity Action in the center of Minsk were roughly prevented from fulfilling their professional duties.

Police officers did not allow journalists to make pictures of the action. According to reporters, the police acted even rougher than during the similar events of 9 and 16 September. Each photo and video journalist had several officers in plain clothes who tried to prevent reporters from filming the action.

19.10.2009 Manager of Printing House Suits Non-State Newspaper

Andrei Zavatski, the director of Barysau printing house, appealed against Borisovskie Novosti non-state newspaper and its journalist Anatol Mazhou with a suit on defending honor, dignity and business reputation.

The reason for the suit is an article called "Director’s Eccentricity or Adherence to Labour Law?" published by Borisovskie Novosti 7 October 2009.

The article is based on an anonymous letter sent to the editorial board by one of employees of the printing house. The author of the letter complained the director of the printing house Andrei Zavatski broke labour laws. Anatol Mazhou asked Mr. Zavatski to comment the letter, added comments by other employees and by an independent lawyer.