The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for January 2014

06.01.2014 State-owned newspaper accuses political parties of passiveness

The regional newspaper "Vitebskiye Vesti" summed up the forming of the territorial election commissions and told the readers that "the activity of political parties is barely visible", as far as “just 17 members of parties became members of the commissions, including 13 members of the , as party members, including 13 members of the Communist Party of Belarus”.

06.01.2014 Babruisk City Election Commission consists of “experienced members” as usual

The city election commission traditionally consists of officials, heads of enterprises and members of pro-governmental institutions. Most of them worked in the commission during the last election. As usual, the website of Babruisk City Executive Committee doesn't report the places of their work, and just mentions the affiliation of some of them with certain parties and organizations.

06.01.2014 Policeman takes explanations from Mikalai Charnavus

The individual entrepreneur and activist Mikalai Charnavus who works at the central cooperative market was visited by the local police inspector, who told him to give explanations concerning the anti-corruption picket held on 26 December.

06.01.2014 Vasil Parfiankou is kept in Zhodzina penitentiary

Former political prisoner Vasil Parfiankou is kept in the transit point of Zhodzina penitentiary, from which he will be transferred to Horki penitentiary.

06.01.2014 Trial of Aliaksandr Malchanau postponed to 9 December

On 4 January the first hearing in the case of preventive supervision for former political prisoner Aliaksandr Malchanau took place in the Barysau District Court .

06.01.2014 “Hazeta Slonimskaya” evicted from its premises

The staff have to move to a new office for the fourth time for 16 years of the newspaper's life.

06.01.2014 Statkevich's letter about protests in the Ukraine not let through by censorship

Political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich wrote his brother, who lives in Ukraine, about protests in Kyiv and the relations between Ukraine and Russia. But the letter didn't leave the prison in Mahiliou, where the former presidential candidate serves his term.

06.01.2014 Autukhovich's wife says her husband is provoked to violate the prison regime

After the last meeting with political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich his wife Alena Autukhovich said that he was provoked to violate the prison regulations.

03.01.2014 Mazyr District Election Commission composed of state officials, members of councils and heads of enterprises

At first glance, there are no bosses or officials in the list of members of Mazyr District Election Commission – there are only “representatives of citizens, trade unions and public associations”. However, after a close examination it becomes clear that there are only heads of enterprises, officers of the executive committee and even two members of the district council!

03.01.2014 Zhlobin District Court dismisses the appeal of “Fair World” activists

Zhlobin District Court dismissed the complaint of the local activists of the Left Party "Fair World", who asked to cancel the decision of Zhlobin District Executive Committee, by which a member of the party Valiantsin Yauzrezau wasn't included in an election commission.

03.01.2014 Member of BPF Party not included in election commission

Biaroza District Court dismissed the complaint of a group of citizens against the failure to include a BPF member Ihar Menshykau in the district election commission.

03.01.2014 Shklou District Council to have 35 seats instead of 40

Shklou District Election Commission adopted the decision to establish 35 constituencies for the election of deputies to Shklou District Council of the 27th convocation. The decision was published in the local newspaper "Udarny Front" (№ 101 of 31 December 2013).

02.01.2014 Chairperson of Brest Regional Court turns down Viktary Syrytsa's appeal

On 2 January social activist Viktar Syrytsa received a letter from Brest Regional Court signed by the chair of the court Tamara Suchok and informed him about the dismissal of his complaint on the case of Milavidy Festival.

02.01.2014 Lidziya Yarmoshyna refuses to hold new election at Krychau election constituency No. 83

The head of the Central Election Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna refused to hold new elections of deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus at Krychau election constituency No. 83. The reason for the refusal to hold elections was that the term of the deputacy of Uladzimir Krautsou, elected to the House of Representatives in this constituency, wasn't over.

02.01.2014 Brest UCP files an application for picket against the state fee on cars

Members of Brest city branch of the United Civil Party applied to the local authorities with the request to authorize the picket against the introduction of the state fee on cars which they intend to hold on 12 January in Lenin Square.