The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 14 Apr 2011

14.04.2011 Horki: socio-political newspaper Uzgorak warned by Ministry of Information

On 14 April the chief editor of the newspaper, Halina Budnaya, received an appropriate letter from the ministry. According to it, the warning is issued for a number of reasons. The first of them is the failure of the newspaper staff to inform the ministry about the change of the editor after the death of the previous one, well-known journalist and civil activist Eduard Brokarau. The other ones are the absence of the bar-code in several issues of the newspaper and alleged violations in the activities of the internet version of the newspaper.

14.04.2011 Babruisk citizens start collecting signatures against construction of Nuclear Power Station

On 13 April representatives of the democratic forces of Babruisk began collecting signatures under the appeal to President Aliaksandr Lukashenka requiring to stop building the nuclear power plant in Belarus and to restrict the access to all types of radioactive substances into the territory of our country.

14.04.2011 Salihorsk authorities ban pickets for stability and president

Aliaksandr Rymasheuski, Chair of the Salihorsk District Executive Committee, banned the pickets For Stability, For Our President and Against Picket Bans which a democratic activist Uladzimir Shyla wanted to hold in the only place where such actions are allowed by the local authorities – the Budaunik stadium on 15-16 April.

14.04.2011 Police detain journalist present at mournful action in Maladechna

On 13 April an unauthorized mournful action dedicated to the terrorist act in the Minsk metro took place near St. Joseph’s Church in Maladechna. Invitations to this action were distributed through social nets. About one hundred Maladechna residents gathered for the action. No speeches were delivered, people just stood silent for some time.

14.04.2011 Mahiliou builders forced to take part in subbotnik

Subbotniks are a well-known Soviet tradition which is being revived by the Belarusian authorities. Usually they are held on Saturdays and the people who take part in them (usually on “voluntary” basis aren’t paid any money for their work).

14.04.2011 Mahiliou Region Court leaves Dzmitry Salauyou in KGB register

On 14 April the Mahiliou Region Court considered the appeal of a civil activist Dzmitry Salauyou against the verdict of the Leninski District Court which left in force the warning issued to him by the KGB for participation in the 19 December protest rally in Minsk and organization of the street actions in Mahiliou that “could result in mass riot”.

14.04.2011 7 participants of 19 December post-election protest rally to be tried together

The criminal cases against some of the accused of the “mass riot” have been passed to the Leninski District Court of Minsk and will be considered soon. It concerns the cases presidential candidates Dzmitry Uss and Mikalai Statkevich, the participants of the rally on the Nezalezhnasts Square Dzmitry Bulanau, Artsiom Hrybko, Aliaksandr Klaskouski, Aliaksandr Kviatkevich and Andrei Pazniak will be considered by in the nearest future.