The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 6 Oct 2011

06.10.2011 Navapolatsk: Viktar Kalesnik is invited for “fingerprinting”

Civil activist Viktar Kalesnik is summonsed to the police on 7 October. He is sure that the real reason is his participation in the People's Assembly, which will take place on 8 October, not the dactilography. He has been detained many times already. His fingerprints were taken for the first time four years ago. The police also have his photo and video shots.

06.10.2011 Homel: court takes the side of city authorities

On 6 October Siarhei Shytsikau, Judge of the Tsentralny Distrift Court of Homel, turned down the appeal of human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka against the refusal of the Mahiliou City Executive Committee to authorize pickets in support of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, who is kept under arrest on criminal charges.

06.10.2011 Mahiliou: police question activist of “Tell the Truth!”

Andrei Dvihun, an activist of the civil movement “Tell the Truth!” was summonsed to the police following the detention of another activist Anton, who was throwing leaflets “Let's Save Belarus!” into postboxes in a multi-stored building.

06.10.2011 Organizers of People's Assembly are summonsed to General Procuracy

The co-chairmen of the organizing committee of the People's Assembly Henadz Fiadynich and Viktar Ivashkevich received summons to the General Procuracy for 11 a.m. on 6 October. The reasons are not known yet.

06.10.2011 Brest: Vadzim Rabtsevich detained

Vadzim Rabtsevich, an activist of the Belarusian Leftist Party “Fair World”, was detained for posting leaflets with information about the time and place of the People's Assembly in Brest. He managed to inform human rights defender Uladzimir Malei about the detention.

06.10.2011 Baranavichy: pardoned figurant of “19 December case” is under vigilant supervision

On 14 September Dzmitry Novik, a figurant of the criminal case concerning the events of 19 December 2010, was released by Lukashenka's pardon decree.

06.10.2011 Mahiliou authorities double the number of riot policemen

According to anonymous information from the police, the Mahiliou authorities intend to increase the number of riot policemen in the city by 150 people. In 2010, the battalion of the riot police consisted of about 200 people.

06.10.2011 Baranavichy: Zmitser Shurkhai put off the train

Zmitser Shurkhai, a coordinator of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, was put off a train in Baranavichy by police and security services.

06.10.2011 Baranavichy: Viktar Tsiapin gets fined

On 6 October the Baranavichy City and District Court considered the administrative case of Viktar Tsiapin, who was charged under Article 23.34 (“violation of the order of organizing or holding mass events”) for taking part in the organization of the People's Assembly. Judge Aksana Sarakhman found him guilty and sentenced him to a fine of 875,000 rubles.

06.10.2011 Authorities organize fairs and sportive events to block People's Assembly

The People's Assembly in Babruisk will be held near the shopping house “Vesta”. Everybody knows about it, including the authorities, as one of its organizers, Viktar Buzinayeu, sent invitations to this action to police officers and local officials.

06.10.2011 Search at Minsk Automobile Plant

Security guards of the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) were looking for leaflets with information about the People’s Assembly.

06.10.2011 Homel: police detain silent protesters

On 5 October three participants of the silent protest rally were detained in Homel. The rally was held in the city despite of the pause in rallies announced by their organizers.

06.10.2011 Yan Melnikau sentenced to 5 days of arrest for handing out leaflets

On 5 October Yan Melnikau was detained while handing out leaflets with invitations to the People's Assembly at the check-point of the Minsk Automobile Plant. Today he has been sentenced to 5 days of arrest under Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, “violation of the order of organizing and holding mass events”, though norms of the Law “On Mass Events” don't concern people's assemblies, which are regulated by the Law “On National and Local Assemblies”.