The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 18 Apr 2011

18.04.2011 Salidarnasts chief editor questioned on metro blast

On 16 April, Aliaksandr Starykevich, editor-in-chief of the Salidarnasts Internet newspaper, was interrogated by the prosecuting authorities as a witness in the Minsk metro explosion case on 11 April.

18.04.2011 Prisoner Klaskouski: “Mikhalevich’s words about tortures are true”

During the meeting with his wife Natallya, prisoner Alyaksandr Klaskouski confirmed the things Ales Mikhalevich said about the KGB remand prison (“Amerikanka”). The conversation of the prisoner took place during their meeting in the KGB jail, Radio Svaboda informs.

18.04.2011 PACE Political Affairs Committee: investigation into the “mass disorders” raise serious concerns

The Political Affairs Committee of the CE Parliamentary Assembly has released an information note on developments following the adoption of PACE Resolution 1790 (2011) “The situation in Belarus in the aftermath of the presidential election” of 27 January 2011 condemning the violent repression of political protests.

18.04.2011 Freedom House: Belarus Internet Freedom Status -- Not Free

The Freedom House international NGO that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights has released its annual Internet Freedom report entitled "Freedom on the Net 2011".

OPINION ON THE WARNING ADDRESSED TO THE BELARUSIAN ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS ON 13 JANUARY 2010 BY THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OF BELARUS Adopted by the Venice Commission at its 85th Plenary Session, (Venice, 17-18 December 2010)

18.04.2011 OPINION ON THE WARNING ADDRESSED TO THE BELARUSIAN ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS ON 13 JANUARY 2010 BY THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OF BELARUS Adopted by the Venice Commission at its 85th Plenary Session, (Venice, 17-18 December 2010)

At its 85th Plenary Session, (Venice, 17-18 December 2010), the Venice Commission adopted a document entitled OPINION ON THE WARNING ADDRESSED TO THE BELARUSIAN ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS ON 13 JANUARY 2010 BY THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OF BELARUS, assessing the compatibility of the official warning addressed by the Ministry of Justice to the BAJ with “universal human rights standards“.

18.04.2011 Another suspect in mass riot case: Vital Stazharau

Human rights defenders say youth opposition activist Vital Stazharau has been declared another suspect in the 19 December 2010 mass riot criminal case.

18.04.2011 Baranavichy authorities ban Chernobyl remembrance picket

Baranavichy town executive committee banned a picket marking the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster scheduled for 26 April.

18.04.2011 Minsk police reportedly beat innocent person

Minsk resident Ihar Rylkou was reportedly beaten and taken to the nearest police station on 13 April in one of the capital’s residential areas.

18.04.2011 Aliaksandr Atroshchankau transferred to labour brigade after illness

Andrej Sannikau's spokesman was visited by his parents in the colony.

18.04.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (11-17 April)

The past week was marred by a terrible tragedy that made all other events fall by the wayside: on 11 April Minsk Kastrychnitskaya central metro station was rocked by a powerful blast, claiming 13 lives and causing injuries to over 200 more people. April 13 was declared a national day of morning. The explosion was qualified as an act of terrorism, the news that shocked Belarus as it had always been thought of as a rather safe country. On 12 April, a PACE meeting in Strasbourg considered the scheduled Belarusian issues, which was condemned by the official media, who labeled the human rights defenders attending the meeting as “a fifth column”, naming their actions “dance on bones”. However, the state-run media failed to mention a one-minute silence that opened the PACE session. A number of Belarusian politicians and journalists, including opposition leader Aliaksandr Milinkevich, independent columnist Aliaksandr Starykevich and former KGB officer Valery Kostka, were officially warned by the General Prosecutor’s Office for alleged dissemination of “ungrounded data on the 11 April tragedy.” Furthermore, the Information Ministry issued similar warnings to the Nasha Niva and Narodnaya Volya independent periodicals, together with the UzHorak minor local newspaper. Several case files of persons involved in the 19 December 2010 events were submitted to courts. Civil activists kept campaigning for the release of journalist Andrzej Poczobut, arrested on charges of libel of the President.