The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 15 Mar 2014

15.03.2014 Homel activist Uladzimir Shytsikau detained for anti-war picketing

March 15, activists of the United Civil Party held an anti-war picket near the large department store “Reshytski”. Its participants held posters with the slogans “We demand honest elections!” “Return elections!”, “23 March – another non-election”.

15.03.2014 Baranavichy: Uladzimir Hundar to be tried on March 21

March 4, Uladzimir Hundar held a one-man picket of solidarity with the Ukrainian people in the center of Baranavichy. The activist came out to the city center with a blue-yellow Ukrainian flag on his shoulders and a large poster “Putin's gang-aggressors – get out of Ukraine and Belarus!”.

15.03.2014 Brest: candidate for deputy not allowed to use additional seals for ballot boxes

Candidate for deputy of the Brest City Council Valiantsina Maltsava intended to buy disposable seals for the money of her electoral fund in order to ensure the safety of ballot boxes for early voting (which takes part during five days before the election day).

15.03.2014 Aliaksandr Artsybashau and Pavel Vinahradau sentenced to large arrest terms

The activists of “Zmena” (the youth wing of “Tell the Truth”) were detained on March 13. Artsybashau drove to the office of the police inspection, where ex-political prisoner Vinahradau came for regular registration.

15.03.2014 Candidates Illia Dabratvor and Anatol Zhylko get detained near the detention center in Akrestsin Street

March 14, Minsk police detained a candidate of the Belarusian Popular Front for the local councils, Illia Dabratvor, and a candidate of the United Civil Party, Anatol Zhylko, near the detention center in Akrestsin Street, where they were meeting ex-political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich and Yauhen Tsikhanau, who were released after serving 12-day arrest terms for an action of protest against the Russian intervention in the Ukraine.

15.03.2014 Participants of the project “Election observation: theory and practice” detained in Minsk

The project participants Hanna Azemsha and Palina Brodzik were to have held a training for election observers on March 14. They drove to the place of the training by car, carrying the necessary stationery and brochures for observers with them.

15.03.2014 Hrodna: membership in councils as synonym of prosperity

If we pay attention to the social status of the candidates for deputies of the Hrodna City Council, we will find out that almost all of them are high-ranking officials and heads of enterprises who have quite large wages and assets by the Belarusian standards.