The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 16 Nov 2009

16.11.2009 Rector of Medical University Dismissed for Disclosure of Flaws in Placement of Graduates

The Health Ministry didn’t extend the labor contract to Pavel Bespalchuk, rector of the Belarusian State Medical University. Pavel Bespalchuk could have retired quietly, as many Belarusian officials do. However, he was brave enough to publish a scandalous article in the newspaper Vesnik BDMU (BSMU Courier) under the title Till 31 November. In this publication he describes how the graduates of his university are placed to jobs. He characterized the situation as ‘lawlessness that has reached its apogee’.

16.11.2009 Organizing committee of Belarusian Party of Workers sues Ministry of Justice

On 12 November the organizing committee of the Belarusian Party of Workers filed to the Supreme Court a complaint against the registration denial to the Ministry of Justice.

16.11.2009 Cultural-educational civil association ‘Golden Lion’ denied registration

The main justice department of Hrodna oblast executive committee denied the state registration to the Cultural-educational association ‘Golden Lion’ from Slonim.

16.11.2009 Belarusian authorities consider Yuzepchuk’s address to UN illegal

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has received from the state organs of Belarus explanations concerning the individual communication on behalf of the death convict Vasil Yuzepchuk.

16.11.2009 Santa Clauses received answer from Office of Prosecutor General

The General Prosecutor’s Office found the activities of Santa Clauses on New Year’s Eve illegal. The group of Santa Clauses will be brought to responsibility if it will be established that they take systematic part in an unregistered organization, says the letter of the General Prosecutor’s Office.

16.11.2009 Lithuanian MP Emmanuelis Zingeris not allowed in Belarus

The member of the Lithuanian Parliament Emmanuelis Zingeris was denied the Belarusian visa. He was to have come to Belarus to read the greeting message on behalf of the head of the Lithuanian Parliament Irena Degutiene, the BNS informs.

16.11.2009 Death penalty: news in Vasil Yuzepchuk’s case

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs answered the address of human rights defenders concerning the registration of the death convict Vasil Yuzepchuk’s communication by the UN Human Rights Committee.

16.11.2009 Ales Bialiatski: ‘There ten times more NGOs in Armenia than in Belarus’

According to information of the BelaPAN Aleh Slizheuski, head of the civil associations board of the Ministry of Justice, stated that there was prepared a draft law that would decrease the legal terms for consideration of the documents submitted for NGOs for obtaining the state registration (at present the legal term is one month). The official also stated that the procedure of registration would be simplified.

16.11.2009 Rights of national minorities of Belarus are restricted

According to the amendments to the Law On Languages in the Republic of Belarus that will come into force in ten days, representatives of national minorities in Belarus would be able to teach their children in their national language only with permission from the Education Ministry.

16.11.2009 Kobryn: district court refuses to consider Aliaksandr Mekh’s complaint against unlawful detention

Alaksandr Mekh, the head of the BPF branch in Kobryn, got an answer from the district court over his arrest at the Dazhynki harvest festival.

16.11.2009 Vitsebsk: Barys Khamaida detained once more

Detentions of Vitsebsk oppositionist and distributor of independent press are getting regular. According to RFE/RL, policemen detain Barys Khamaida and place to the Chyhynachny district police department of Vitsebsk.