The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 15 Feb 2012

15.02.2012 Police inspector: “Go back to your Russia!”

Marina Dukmasova was detained during the silent protest action on 6 July 2011 in Minsk. The following day the Maskouski District Court of Minsk found her guilty of disorderly conduct and sentenced her to pay a fine. She appealed the verdict at the Minsk City Court, and the – at the Supreme Court, but the initial sentence was left standing.

15.02.2012 Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh still struggles for proper acquittal

On 15 February Aliaksandr Suzhayeu, Judge of the Homel Regional Court, considered the appeal of activist of the United Civil Party and Movement “For Freedom!” Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh against the ruling of the Tsentralny District court of Homel which upheld the dropping of his case because of the impossibility to prove his guilt.

15.02.2012 Letters in support of political prisoners

On 14 February ex-political prisoner Siarhei Kazakou and Aliaksandr Vialitchanka, recently expelled from a university, sent letters to the Presidential Administration with the demand of immediate release of political prisoners, including Zmitser Bandarenka, Ales Bialiatski, Andrei Sannikau, Mikola Statkevich and others. The youngsters intend to continue sending such letters until receiving a clear answer.

15.02.2012 Hrodna: fine for refusal to be fingerprinted at work

On 10 February Hrodna resident Ruslan Petsko was fined 700,000 rubles (about $83) by Alena Piatrova, Judge of the Leninski District Court of Hrodna.

15.02.2012 Procuracy states Tatsiana Seviarynets has no right to initiate check-up of tuberculosis hospital

Tatsiana Seviarynets, coordinator of the steering committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, applied to the Vitsebsk Regional Procuracy with the request to hold a check-up at the Vitsebsk regional tuberculosis hospital in the town of Bahusheusk. In particular, she asked to find about the legal reasons for keeping Valery Hancharenka, an adherent of the BCD, in the psychiatric department.

15.02.2012 Protestant priest Antoni Bokun appeals police assault on his house

The priest filed an appeal with the Maskouski District Procuracy of Minsk in connection with the assault on his house, committed by a riot police brigade on 8 February.

15.02.2012 Siarhei Kavalenka has problems with visceral organs

A lawyer visited Siarhei Kavalenka in a detention facility in Vitsebsk yesterday. Alena Kavalenka, Siarhei's wife, told ERB:

15.02.2012 Ivan Shyla to spend 22 days in jail

Ivan Shyla, one of the leaders of the “Young Front”, who was detained by riot police before “I Love Belarus” award giving ceremony, is in a detention center in Akrestsin Street now.

15.02.2012 President of EU Parliament demands to free political prisoners in Belarus

Martin Schulz, the EP President, and Stefan Füle, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, have had a meeting today. They discussed the situation in Belarus. Martin Schulz made a statement after the meeting, ERB reports.

15.02.2012 Soviet of Republic doesn’t support proposal of Homel oppositionists

The Administration of the President and the Soviet of the Republic rejected the request of Homel opposition to initiate proceedings at the Constitutional Court for putting the administrative legislation in line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Administration of the President did not even consider the appeal filed by Uladzimir Katsora and Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh on its merrits and the Soviet of the Republic responded that the administrative legislation, namely the Procedural-Executive Code of Administrative Offences complies with the Constitution and the International Covenant.

15.02.2012 Lawyer not allowed to meet with Andrei Sannikau

Iryna Khalip, Sannikau’s wife: “They explained that Andrei worked on morning shifts. However, he has always been working morning shifts and he [the lawyer] used to be allowed to meet him. It looks like the isolation has been resumed”.