12.10.2011 Fine to Hrodna residents Ales Kirkevich and Veranika Velihor

On 12 October the administrative commission of the Leninski district of Hrodna ruled to fine the activists of the “Young Front” Ales Kirkevich and Veranika Velihor 350,000 rubles each.

12.10.2011 The death penalty - does it defend or diminish the dignity of man?

Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind.....

John Donne, 16th Century English Poet

12.10.2011 New rector of International Institute MITSO expels participant of silent protests

Valiantsin Fiadziuk, fourth-year student of the International Institute MITSO (higher educational establishment of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Belarus) was expelled for participation in a silent protest action. The order for his expulsion was signed by the new rector, Stanislau Kniazeu.

12.10.2011 Slonim: detention of Ivan Bedka

On 12 October the Slonim District Court tried Ales Masiuk, a member of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, for active participation in the People’s Assembly in Slonim.

12.10.2011 Last figurant of “19 December mass riot” case sentenced to three years of personal restraint

The Maskouski District Court of Minsk finished the proceedings concerning the last figurant of the 19 December case, Sviataslau Barananovich. Judge Alena Rudnitskaya found him guilty of participation in the “mass riot” and sentenced him to three years of personal restraint with direction to a penitentiary

12.10.2011 Brest authorities “deny” activist in holding procession in support of Ales Bialiatski

On 16 October the Brest human rights defender Raman Kisliak planned to hold a one-man procession on Kasmanauty Strip in Brest in order to draw the public attention to violalion of the right to freedom of the vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights, chairman of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski.

12.10.2011 Homel: Kanstantsin Zhukouski was handcuffed to radiator

Political activist Zhukouski wanted to attend the trial of Valery Sliapukhin. As far as Judge Illia Svirydau postponed the trial to an unknown time, Zhukouski tried to ask the judge and the secretary about it. However, he didn't find them in their rooms. That's why he came to Tatsiana Adrynets, chairwoman of the Chyhunachny District Court of Homel. She answered that the trial would continue at 3 p.m. However, Mr. Zhukouski noticed that the judge intended to continue the trial during the dinner break.

12.10.2011 Homel: Valery Sliapukhin fined a large sum of money

Valery's friends kept their duty at the entrance of the Chyhunachny District Court of Homel since morning on 11 October. The defendant was taken to the court only at 1 p.m. Judge Illia Svirydau didn't let some of the activists in the court hall, as they had to look for the room where the trial was taking place and were a bit late. As a result, political activist Kanstantsin Zhukouski filed a complaint concerning the actions of the judge and the situation when people have to look for the place of the trial.

12.10.2011 Hrodna: people in civvies besiege apartment of “Young Front” activist

The apartment of an activist of the “Young Front”, Volha Kamiahina, was kept in siege in the morning. A minibus came to the yard. After unknown people stopped phoning on the intercom, she received a telephone call, allegedly from the post, with the request to accept registered mail.

12.10.2011 KGB refuses to return personal belongings to Anatol Liabedzka

The administration of the KGB prison, where Mr. Liabedzka was kept, refused to return him his notebooks, money and the cross he wore on his neck. The official reason is that Liabedzka cannot show his passport (which was allegedly attached to his case).