The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 12 Jan 2010

12.01.2010 Vice-chairman of Supreme Economic Court gives no substantial answer to appeal of Protestant church

On 29 December New Life, a Church of the Religious Association of Communities of Full Evangel Christians, appealed against the verdict of the Supreme Economic Court of 13 January 2009 on dismissing its lawsuit against the Minsk city executive committee. In its appeal, addressed to Vasil Dzemidovich, first vice-chairman of the Supreme Economic Court, the church asked him to appeal against the SEC verdict in its Presidium, and solicited for suspension of implementation of the SEC ruling of 13 January and the ruling of the Economic Court of Minsk of 7 October 2009 on eviction of the church from the building in Kavaliou Street, 72.

12.01.2010 Valiantsin Stefanovich: Human rights defenders deny hooliganism in actions of Siarhei Kavalenka

Representatives of the Human Rights Center Viasna blankly disagree with bringing a criminal case against Siarhei Kavalenka and consider it to be politically motivated persecution.

12.01.2010 Human Rights Center Viasna demands that criminal case against Ivan Mikhailau be dropped

The civil right to alternative service ensues from Article 57 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus. This article provides that the defense of the Republic of Belarus is a sacred duty of a Belarusian citizen. The order of the military service, the reasons and the conditions of its replacement with alternative service are determined by the law.

12.01.2010 Ministry of Justice doesn’t register ‘Young Belarus’

The Ministry of Justice refused to register the Young Belarus movement. It was stated by one of the leaders of the movement Zmitser Kaspiarovich.

12.01.2010 Vitsebsk: Barys Khamaida detained again

Barys Khamaida, distributor of private socio-political press editions, was detained once again near the so-called ‘blue house’ in Lenin Street,27, where he usually distributes Nasha Niva, ARCHE and other editions.

12.01.2010 Ivan Mikhailau faces 6 month arrest instead of alternative service

21-year-old Ivan Mikhailau is charged with draft evasion. The young man pleads innocent.

12.01.2010 Kavalenka’s relatives are worried about his health

Siarhei Kavalenka’s mother Lidziya Kavalenka works as a street sweeper. She was in Peramohi Square in Vitsebsk when the white-red-white flag appeared on the tree. As RFE/RL informs, the woman is greatly worried that police would beat and humiliate her son.

12.01.2010 Another activist detained in Vitsebsk

Democratic activist Filip Shaurou was detained by the riot police on Monday. At about 12:25 a.m. policemen came up to activist Filip Shaurou at a central bus station and said he answered the description of a person who had committed a crime and asked to follow them. The detained was guarded to the Chyhunachny district police department of Vitsebsk.

12.01.2010 Authorities disrupt round table on unlawful Internet restrictions

The Belarusian Language Society (BLS) named after Francysk Skaryna received a warning of the Ministry of Justice saying that discussion of draft decrees of Lukashenka contradicts to the organization’s charter.