The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 13 Jan 2012

13.01.2012 Vitsebsk: political prisoner Siarhei Kavalenka fined 140,000 rubles

The Pershamaiski District Court of Vitsebsk finished the proceedings on an administrative case against political prisoner Siarhei Kavalenka. Judge Volha Ivanova fined him for alleged swearing at officers of the penal inspection.

13.01.2012 Political prisoner Vaskovich put into penal cell again

Activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Yauhen Vaskovich got ten days in a punishment cell.

13.01.2012 Political prisoner Sannikau not allowed to meet with his lawyer again

The treatment of the political prisoner becomes more and more cruel.

13.01.2012 Baranavichy: Mikalai Charnavus asks prosecutor to annul results of re-election to council of central market

On 12 January entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus applied to the Baranavichy District Procuracy with the request to find unlawful the re-election to the council of the central market of Baranavichy, held on 29 December 2011, and punish those who held it.

13.01.2012 Brest: regional court turns down Viktar Chaikouski's appeal

Viktar Chaikouski, electioneering agent of presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich during the election of 2010, appealed against the verdict of the Leninski District Court of Brest, which ruled that the case against him was to be dropped because of the end of the term of penalty execution.

13.01.2012 Brest: court finds nothing wrong with picket bans

The Brest Regional Court confirmed the ruling of the Leninski District Court of Brest concerning the ban of a series of pickets under the slogan “Freedom to Political Prisoners!” by the Brest City Executive Committee in autumn 2011.

13.01.2012 Baranavichy: authorities minimize cooperation with “Intex-press”

In the beginning of 2012 the private newspaper “Intex-press” issued in Baranavichy, faced unexpected troubles. In particular, at present only its chief editor, Uladzimir Yanukevich, can attend sittings of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee as an accredited journalist, whereas earlier any journalist of the newspaper could come there.

13.01.2012 Mahiliou: administration intimidates workers of Paulau's brigade

When workers of the brigade where Aliaksei Paulouski works learned that the administration of the “Pramzhylbud” firm had refused to extend his labor contract, they wrote applications for resigning from work to express their solidarity with him.

13.01.2012 Activist of “United Russia” detained for action of solidarity with Kavalenka

Pyotr Ivanov, a citizen of the Russian Federation, was detained for handing out leaflets calling to support an imprisoned oppositionist from Vitsebsk in court.

13.01.2012 Political prisoner Autukhovich taken to medical unit

Mikalai Autukhovich has been taken to the prison medical unit for unknown reasons. Autukhovich is to stand trial on 17 January to change confinement conditions for him. The colony administration says he does not want to mend his way.

13.01.2012 Raman Pratasevich interrogated by KGB again

Raman Pratasevich was questioned by KGB and threatened with applying pressure on his parents and relatives. Provocations against the activists were continued by pro-governmental news websites, Radio “Racyja” reports.

13.01.2012 Does US support in Uzbekistan what it can't accept in Belarus?

Last week, President Obama signed into law a bill that expands sanctions against Belarus, whose authoritarian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko continues to imprison his opponents and critics. Lukashenko unleashed the latest crackdown hours after the flawed December 2010 presidential vote, which declared him winner of a fourth term. Repression in Belarus is ongoing. Last week, authorities further tightened their grip on the media by restricting access to blacklisted websites. On Monday, a district court in Minsk jailed an independent reporter for filming a one-man protest vigil in front of the KGB headquarters.