The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 12 Apr 2012

12.04.2012 Pressurization of “Granite” workers continues

Shovelman Leanid Dubanosau still hasn’t passed the exam on electric security, as “special” continues are created for him each time. For instance, while he was passing the exam with an acquaintance, the latter was given questions. What concerns Mr. Dubanosau, examiner Henadz Bloshkin told him to write to the prosecutor’s office for passing the exam again to which the shovelman answered that he would really apply there if necessary.

12.04.2012 Police confiscate Aliaksei Pikulik’s passport

On 6 April the road police stopped the car of Aliaksei Pikulik, head of the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies. They told him to drive to the Tsentralny District Police Department of Minsk for identification as a suspect in a fight and forgery of documents.

12.04.2012 Stefanovich's complaints are still forwarded to Ministry of Defense

On 11 March the vice-head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Valiantsin Stefanovich was prevented from leaving for Lithuania. He was stopped by the Belarusian border guards at the crossing point "Kamenny Loh" and stated that he was prohibited to leave Belarus.

12.04.2012 Mahiliou: Siarhei Niahatsin fined 3 mln rubles for "Tut i Tsiaper" newspaper

On 11 April an activist of the Belarusian Popular Front Siarhei Niahatsin received a telephone call from the police, who proposed him to come to the police department and take back the newspapers which had been confiscated from him about a month ago, while he had been distributing them at a market.

12.04.2012 Activists, detained at memorial action, levied with huge fines. Their things got “stolen” from police safe

Anastasiya Shuleika and Yury Khodus, detained during the solemn opening of the memorial sign "River of Memory" at the entrance of the Kastrychnitskaya metro station in Minsk on 11 April, were sentenced to pay huge fines.

12.04.2012 Luninets District Court turns down appeal of trade-union activist Aleh Stakhayevich

Vasil Belski, head of the Luninets District Court, turned down the appeal of the head of the independent trade-union at the "Granite" enterprise Aleh Stakhayevich, against his dismissal.

12.04.2012 Anniversary of 11 April terrorist act marked with detentions

Actions in the memory of victims of the terrorist act of 11 April 2011 were held in different cities of Belarus. Some of their participants were detained by riot policemen.