The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 13 Jan 2011

13.01.2011 Journalist Andrei Pachobut gets fined

On 13 January the Kastrychnitski District Court of Minsk fined the journalist 1,750,000 rubles (about $600) upon Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code, ‘violation of the rules of organizing or holding mass events’, for participation in 19 December protest action.

13.01.2011 Hrodna: trial of Aleh Kalinkou postponed

The Leninski District Court of Hrodna started the trial of Aleh Kalinkou, an electioneering agent of the presidential candidate Uladzimir Niakliayeu.

13.01.2011 Editor of Novy Chas interrogated by police

The editor of the Novy Chas newspaper received a telephone invitation for a ‘talk’ from the Frunzenski District Police Department of Minsk. A police officer said that his telephone was registered in Nezalezhnastsi Square at the time of the 19 December demonstration.

13.01.2011 Homel: detention of Kanstantsin Zhukouski

A member of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Kanstantsin Zhukouski was detained on 13 January. A report for disorderly conduct was drawn up. A trial will be held soon.

13.01.2011 KGB continues searches and interrogations

KGB officers held a search at the apartment where Iryna Charniauka, a journalist for the BelSat TV channel, lived. The apartment belongs to her sister. The search ended at 4.15 p.m. The system block of Charniauka’s computer and several CDs were confiscated. Then Iryna was taken to KGB, for an interrogation. She managed to tell human rights defenders that it can concern Aliaksei Mikhalevich’s case.

13.01.2011 Andrei Mikalayeu – another suspect in ‘mass riot’ case

Andrei Mikalayeu was detained at home in the evening of 11 January. KGB officers held a search at his apartment, took away the system block of his computer, a photo camera, CDs and DVDs and guarded him to the detention center in Akrestsin Street for 3 days as a suspect in the criminal case upon Article 293, ‘mass riot’, concerning the 19 December protest rally.

Analytical note of human rights defenders concerning the conditions of transportation, trials and imprisonment of the detained participants of the action of protest on 19 December

13.01.2011 Analytical note of human rights defenders concerning the conditions of transportation, trials and imprisonment of the detained participants of the action of protest on 19 December

This analytical note was prepared on the basis of the information that was obtained on 3-5 January 2011 from 73 individuals, which includes 61 questionnaires, filled in with their own hand, and personal interviews of 12 detainees.

13.01.2011 Wife of musician Ales Tabolich summonsed for interrogation

Alesia, the wife of a famous metal musician Ales Tabolich (Znich band) has been summoned to the police in connection with her presence in Independence Square on 19 December. ‘Your phone’s signal was registered’, said a policeman. Ales Tabolich has informed Euroradio about it on air.

13.01.2011 Tatsiana Seviarynets to lodge complaint against unlawful actions of KGB

Tatsiana Seviarynets is preparing a complaint about the KGB members’ actions to the General Procuracy. They did not allow her to leave for Warsaw in the evening of 12 January.

13.01.2011 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in December 2010

December was an important month for summing up the results of the presidential electoral campaign that lasted for three months and ended on 19 December.

13.01.2011 Belarus – Widespread searches and judicial harassment of human rights defenders following Presidential Elections

Numerous individual human rights defenders and organisations have been subjected to police and judicial harassment, ill-treatment, searches and raids carried out at their offices and homes, since the unrest which followed the Presidential Elections of 19 December 2010.