The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2014

26.03.2014 Vitsebsk CCP-BPF activist sentenced to 7 days of arrest over picketing

The Pershamaiski District Court of Vitsebsk considered today the case of a member of the Conservative Christian Party Belarusian Popular Front Yan Dziarzhautsau charged with participating in an unauthorized mass event on March 22. On March 25, he was detained by police when he was returning from Freedom Day celebrations. The night before the trial he was held in temporary detention.

26.03.2014 Two Freedom Day protesters sentenced to short prison terms

The Court of Minsk’s Zavodski district heard today administrative charges brought against two activists detained during yesterday's Freedom Day demonstration.

26.03.2014 Ex-candidate in Khotsimsk appeals detention and election violations

On March 25, Valery Karankevich, a candidate for the Mahiliou Regional Council of Deputies in Khotsimsk constituency No. 54 and a candidate for the District Council of Khotsimsk in constituency No. 13, sent a complaint to the Prosecutor's Offices of Khotsimsk district and Mahiliou region, as well as the election commissions at various levels.

26.03.2014 National Bolshevik activist serving short jail term

Activist of the National Bolshevik movement Dzmitry Paliyenka was transferred this morning to the detention center to serve an administrative arrest of 13 days on hooliganism charges. Meanwhile, for two days, his whereabouts and legal status remained unknown. The court, as well as various departments of the Interior Ministry, who were addressed by the activist’s relatives and friends, denied his detention.

26.03.2014 9 people detained after Freedom Day action in Minsk

European Belarus activists Maksim Vinyarski, Leanid Kulakou, Syarhei Matskots, Alena Lazarchyk and Uladzislau Barodka were detained near Bahdanovich Street, 78, BelaPAN reports. They were made to get on a minibus and were delivered to the Soviet District Department of the Interior.

26.03.2014 Nasha Niva website blocked on Liberty Day

The website was blocked from 7.15 pm till 11.30 pm while a demonstration proceeded in Minsk on the occasion of the national holiday Liberty Day on March 25.

26.03.2014 Hrodna-based activist searched for stickers with Putin

The home of activist and journalist of Hrodna Ales Kirkevich was searched. The police were looking for stickers depicting Putin, but didn't found anything.

26.03.2014 District judge in Minsk upholds Rymashewski’s appeal against fine

A judge of the Savetski District Court in Minsk on Tuesday reversed a police chief’s decision to impose a heavy fine on opposition politician Vital Rymashewski on a charge of making a knowingly false report to the police.

25.03.2014 Zhodzina City Election Commission refuses to report voting results

An independent observer in Zhodzina, Aliaksei Lapitski, says that Zhodzina has not seen such a high voter turnout in any of the previous local elections. Meanwhile, in terms of visibility the campaign was practically unnoticed.

25.03.2014 Two BCD activists detained outside Ukrainian Consulate in Brest

Brest police detained activists of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Heorhi Dzmitruk and Zmitser Shukhrai. They were detained when leaving the Consulate of Ukraine. The activists were taken to the police station, but their charges are yet unknown, “Nasha Niva” reports quoting co-chairman of the BCD’s organizing committee Pavel Seviarynets.

25.03.2014 Hunger strike at Babruisk tractor spare parts plant

Activists with Belarusian Free Trade Union go on hunger strike over discrimination in collective agreements.

25.03.2014 Observer in Baranavichy asks prosecutors to check “records” of home voting

On 24 March, an independent observer Viktar Syrytsa sent a complaint to the Baranavichy Interdistrict Prosecutor's Office to appeal against a violation of the Electoral Code by members of the election commission at polling station No. 49. In his complaint, Viktar Syrytsa says that the final report showed extremely high percentage of home voters.

25.03.2014 Babruisk observers file complaints

A number of polling stations in Babruisk, where representatives of local democratic forces were running, were visited by unauthorized persons on the main voting day, including senior officials: City Executive Committee Chairman Dzmitry Bonakhau, his deputy Aliaksandr Markachou and others. Independent observers say that they openly gave orders to the election commission chairman.

25.03.2014 Police, village soviet checking on Zhyznewski’s nephew ahead of Freedom Day demonstration in Minsk

A nephew of a Mikhail Zhyznewski, a Belarusian young man killed in Kyiv in late January, has been visited by police and contacted by the village soviet over his plans to participate in a "Dzen Voli" (Freedom Day) demonstration in Minsk on March 25.