The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 15 Dec 2011

15.12.2011 Valiantsin Stefanovich appeals against fine issued by tax inspection

On 2 December Maryiana Valchkova, Judge of the Partyzanski District Court of Minsk, left standing the ruling of the Partyzanski District Tax Inspection of Minsk of 19 October 2011, according to which human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich was fined 4,727,330 rubles for “the failure to mention the whole sum of taxable income through inattentiveness”.

15.12.2011 Mahiliou region: trials become closed

On 13 December Dzmitry Akulenka, Judge of the Leninski District Court of Mahiliou, didn’t let Aliaksei Yauhenau take part in a trial as a representative of the Independent Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry, and even expelled him from the court room. Relatives of the three people who had perished because of the break of a high-voltage wire in the Horki district were removed from the court room as well.

15.12.2011 Victims of metro blast aren’t issued with copies of court verdict

On 12 December Inesa Krutaya, a victim of the 11 April explosion in the Minsk metro, applied to the Supreme Court with the request to be issued with a copy of the verdict to the alleged perpetrators of the terrorist act, Dzmitry Kanavalau anad Uladzislau Kavaliou. However, she still hasn’t received any answer.

15.12.2011 Belarusian human rights defenders launch fundraising campaign to compensate damage in Bialiatski’s case

Belarusian human rights defenders launched a campaign to collect money for paying the “damage, done by the crime” which had been allegedly committed by Ales Bialiatski. It was stated at a special press-conference.

15.12.2011 Poznan students hold action in support of political prisoners in Belarus

An action of support to Belarusians who are kept in jail because of their political views was held on 14 December in Poznan (Poland). At the beginning of the action the names of the political prisoners were read out and 12 torches were lit. The organizers of the action reminded about the importance of the solidarity of Poles with the Belarusians who are persecuted for their oppositional activities.

15.12.2011 Mahiliou Region Court turns down observers’ appeal

On 14 December the Mahiliou Region Court turned down the appeal of Liudmila Kavylkina and Larysa Shukaila, observers of the election campaign “For Free Elections!” against the verdict of the Leninski District Court of Mahiliou.

15.12.2011 MIA answers address of Belarusian Association of Journalists

The Ministry of Internal Affairs answered the address of the Belarusian Association of Journalists concerning the impunity of crimes against journalists. The journalist organization asked the ministry to reopen the criminal case concerning the disappearance of Dzmitry Zavadski and the murder of Veranika Charkasava, and hold additional check-up on the deaths of Aleh Biabenin and Vasil Hrodnikau.

15.12.2011 Brest: detention of Zmitser Shurkhai and Aliaksei Charkashyn

The activists of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Zmitser Shurkhai and Aliaksei Charkashyn were detained by road police at the entrance to Brest.

15.12.2011 Baranavichy: Ryhor Hryk appeals against procuracy's warning

Baranavichy-based civil activist Ryhor Hryk applied to the Brest Region Procuracy with an appeal against the warning, issued to him by the Baranavichy prosecutor A.Bildzeuka in connection with “participation in an unauthorized mass event” (the People's Assembly which was held on 8 October).

15.12.2011 Vitsebsk authorities ban another 19 December action

Activist of the “European Belarus” Uladzislau Varanetski applied to the Chyhunachny District Executive Committee of Minsk for authorization of the picket which he intended to hold in the Culture and Recreation Park of Railway Workers on 19 December. By this action he wanted to draw public attention to the problem of political prisoners, including the situation of Andrei Sannikau, who is serving his prison term in “Vitsba-3” colony and who is denied meetings with his counsel.

15.12.2011 Vilnius major denied Belarusian visa

Arturas Zuokas has been denied a Belarusian visa after his meeting with the Belarusian opposition members.

15.12.2011 Authorities fill budget at oppositionists' expense

Tatsiana Seviarynets, a coordinator of the organizing committee to create the Belarisian Christian Democracy party, appealed against the verdict of the court for holding the People’s Assembly in Vitsebsk.

15.12.2011 Mahiliou: correspondence with authorities instead of People's Assembly

The organizing committee to hold the People’s Assembly in Mahiliou sent a letter to the chairman of the Mahilou District Executive Committee. The organizing committee demanded the official to account for “gross mistakes and blunders in social and economic development of the country”.

15.12.2011 Astravets district: pressurization of Mikalai Ulasevich increases

Some leaflets with libelous information concerning the activist of the civil initiative “Construction of Astravets Nuclear Power Plant is a crime!” Mikalai Ulasevich have been distributed in Ashmiany and Astravets. The leaflets are printed on behalf of the civil initiative “Nash Dom” and addressed to ordinary citizens. Mr. Ulasevich is declared a member of “Nash Dom” and accused of stealing some money, swindling. His honest civil activism is described as “chicanery and an opportunity to get good profits”.