Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in February 2013
Though the situation of human rights remained stably bad in February,
an important event concerning the situation of political prisoners
took place – On 9 February Vasil Parfiankou, a figurant of the
"case of 19 December 2010", pardoned in 2011 and convicted
in 2012 for violation of the conditions of preventive supervision,
was released from the arrest house due to the end of the six-month
arrest term. However, this fact brought no changes for the overall
situation of political prisoners, as it could by no means be
considered as a manifestation of change in the attitude of the
Belarusian authorities to political prisoners. 11 prisoners of
conscience are still kept in Belarusian prisons.
The European
Union kept to its principled position and continued to insist on the
release of political prisoners as a precondition of the restoration
of political dialogue with the official Minsk. Belarus, in its turn,
showed a reluctance to meet these requirements, at the same time
building up contacts with European structures and diplomatic missions
of the EU, which could indicate a desire for dialogue, but on
pragmatic terms. On 13 February, following negotiations with European
Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Štefan
Füle in Tbilisi within
the framework of a the two-day round of talks at the ministerial
level between the EU and the member countries of the EU "Eastern
Partnership", the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus
Uladzimir Makei stated that only engagement in the European
integration process, not isolation, could help the country to become
democratic. At the same time, commenting on the results of these
negotiations, Füle said:
"Belarus is one of our partners. Unfortunately, Belarus is our
only partner with whom we have no legal basis for a strong bilateral
relationship, as with other partners. In such circumstances, the EU
can only occasionally point out that in Belarus there is the prospect
of the development of relations enjoyed by our other partners. The
prerequisite for this development is the release of political
prisoners."
During the month, the leaders of the
Belarusian Foreign Ministry kept looking for opportunities to
establish contacts with European diplomats. On 7 February, Foreign
Minister of Belarus Uladzimir Makei received the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia Michail
Popkovs. As a result, the Belarusian side spread the information that
the results of bilateral cooperation in 2012 in the political, trade
and economic spheres were summed up during the meeting and the
interest in maintaining the dynamics of the development of relations
between Belarus and Latvia was expressed. According to the Belarusian
Foreign Ministry, on 21 February Mr. Makei and Finland's Ambassador
to Belarus Harri Mäki-Reynika discussed the state and prospects of
bilateral cooperation and interaction in the region of Northern
Europe. "There was an exchange of views on the subject of the
development of relations between Belarus and the EU, as well as other
issues on the international agenda".
The public
information of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus had no references to
the fundamental condition for the resumption of the dialogue of the
EU with the official Minsk, but it is possible that it was viced by
European diplomats at the meeting. An indirect confirmation of the
fact that the Belarusian authorities have to react to the position of
the EU is the increased pressure on political prisoners in order to
force them to write a request for clemency to the President. Most
likely that in such a way the Belarusian authorities are trying to
implement the EU condition and at the same time save their own
reputation by extorting clemency petitions from political
prisoners.
The official Minsk continued the policy of
non-recognition of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights in Belarus, established by a resolution of
the Human Rights Council in July 2012. During his meeting with
Belarusian journalists in Kyiv on 18 February Miklos Haraszti, who
was appointed to the position of Special Rapporteur, said he had
asked to be issued with a Belarusian visa several times, but hadn't
received a positive answer. According to him, he has only been able
to meet with representatives of Belarusian civil society while
working on the report which is to be presented to the UN Human Rights
Council in June 2013. All these meetings were held outside
Belarus.
At the same time, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry
continued criticizing human rights mechanisms and bodies of the
United Nations. On 25 February, during the 22nd session of the UN
Human Rights, the Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United
Nations in Geneva Mikhail Khvastou criticized the current state of
affairs in the Council. He noted that there were "numerous
problems in the human rights body: selectivity, a serious imbalance
in the consideration of human rights violations in different regions,
lack of awareness of human rights issues in countries that have
positioned themselves as "advanced democracies", the
promotion of controversial human rights concepts, etc.".
Speaking about the readiness of Belarus to "help bridge these
gaps," the diplomat at the same time expressed no desire to
allow the Rapporteur of the Council to Belarus, so that the latter
could get acquainted with the state of human rights and thus have a
comprehensive view of the situation in the country, in order to later
put it in his report. Mr. Khvastou offered to focus on human rights
violations in other countries, including through the "presentation
of our annual country reports on resonant human rights violations in
specific countries". The first such report appeared under the
auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus in February,
providing information on human rights violations in 23 European
countries, USA and Canada. The MFA stated that the purpose of the
report was to draw attention to human rights violations in countries
that traditionally identified themselves as "advanced
democracies" and demonstrate their non-compliance with the
international legal obligations. By this report of the Belarusian
Foreign Ministry tried to distract the attention of the international
human rights community from the situation of human rights in Belarus
and switch criticism to other countries, at the same time avoiding
the recognition and solving of internal problems.
Political
prisoners, criminal prosecution of public activists
On 2
February, during the first telephone call from Mahiliou prison for
eight months, activist of the anarchist movement Mikalai Dziadok
stated that he had been examined at the prison hospital, diagnosed
with a chronic stomach illness and assigned a course of medical
treatment.
On 3 February it became known that the Norwegian
parliament allocated the imprisoned human rights activist Ales
Bialiatski for the Nobel Peace Prize. On February Henk Hulshof,
European Coordinator of Amnesty International, and Harry van Baumel,
MEP, met with the Ambassador of Belarus in Hague, Alena Hrytsenka, to
pass her 84,000 signatures collected in support of Ales Bialiatski,
along with a gold coin engraved with a portrait of the political
prisoner and the inscription "Freedom for Ales Bialiatski."
On the same day a book by Ales Bialiatski, "Enlightened by
Belarusian issue", which included his literary articles and
essays, was issued. Ales Bialiatski started composing the book in
2011 at large and continued to work at it after his arrest, in the
prisons of Minsk, Babruisk and Zhodzina. On 13 February it was
announced that Ales Bialiatski was denied visits, which he was to
have received in the next six months. This information was confirmed
to the prisoner's wife Natallia Pinchuk by the administration of
Babruisk penal colony #2 where Ales is kept. Before that, in 2012,
the imprisoned head of the HRC "Viasna" was deprived of one
short-term (of the three) and one long-term (two possible) visits
with family members. The short term meeting was to have taken place
in April, and the long-term one was scheduled for 21 August.
Increased pressure on Ales Bialiatski may be connected with the
attempts of the Belarusian authorities to extort a clemency petition
from him.
As it became known on 3 February, the
ex-presidential candidate Nikolai Statkevich, who is serving a prison
sentence in Mahiliou, received the first food parcel for a year. The
wife of the political prisoner Maryna Adamovich noted that the prison
administration had not accepted some of the products – most of the
vegetables and herbs, as well as honey, citing sanitary rules as the
reason. On 11 February Mr. Statkevich called to his wife Maryna
Adamovich and stated that another wave of provocations against him
had started. A former intelligence officer, known for a very tough
attitude towards inmates, humiliation and beatings, was put in his
cell. A few days later it became known that the man didn't stay in
the cell for a long time. He apologized to M. Statkevich after
discriminating in the situation and asked to be transferred to
another cell. At the same time, at the press conference of 12
February the Deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus Aliaksei Stuk said
that the prison conditions of ex-presidential candidates Mikalai
Statkevich and human rights activist Ales Bialiatski were the same as
that of all other prisoners.
On 4 February, during a
ten-minute call home from Mahiliou penal colony, political prisoner
Artsiom Prakapenka told his mother Vialeta Prakapenka that he had
returned to work after bronchitis, but didn't feel quite well, and
the workshop was very cold. The prisoner asked his mother to send him
vitamins.
On 6 February it became known that entrepreneur
Mikalai Autukhovich, who is serving a prison sentence in Hrodna,
couldn't solve the problems that had arisen due to poor dental
prosthesis, made in Ivatsevichy penal colony. Toothache accompanies
his entire sentence. According to his former lawyer Pavel Sapelka,
they plan some steps to get the problem solved. As it became clear
from Autukhovich's letter to civil activist Leanid Haravy, he was not
going to apply to A. Lukashenka for clemency. Noting that the
president expected the prisoners to write at least three words:
"Please, release me," the political prisoner wrote that he
wouldn't get even these three words from him.
At about 11 a.m.
on 9 February, political prisoner Vasil Parfiankou was released from
Baranavichy remand prison #6, in which there is a house of detention,
where he was serving a six-month sentence for violating the terms of
preventive supervision. At large he was greeted by friends and
associates, human rights defenders, activists from Minsk and
Baranavichy. Parfiankou told reporters that he was waiting for this
day. He didn't complain about the prison conditions. Vasil said that
he knew the situation in the country as he regularly read newspapers.
He also said that he received many letters (some days even a few
hundred), from Belarus and abroad, thanked everyone for their
support. When asked if he was going to stop social activities,
Parfiankou said no. What concerns his life in the house of detention,
Mr. Parfinakou said that his cell was spacious, and some 6-8 people
were serving arrest with him.
On 11 February "Young
Front" activist Eduard Lobau phoned his mother Maryna Lobava and
told that he had received a permit for a short meeting, the
possibility of which had previously been under threat because of a
violation report drawn up on him. On 14 February M. Lobava had a
short meeting with his son, speaking to him through a glass barrier.
Despite the fact that Eduard Lobau was serving his sentence in a
penal colony, he said that the conditions resembled that of a prison.
Mother of the political prisoner said that in recent months her son
had some minor violations, but only preventive talks were used as
punishment. She also emphasized that the opportunities for
self-development of prisoners were rather limited.
On 11
February, community activist from Navapolatsk Andrei Haidukou,
accused of high treason in the form of intelligence activity in KGB
jail, had a meeting with his lawyer. According to the mother of the
detainee, Volha Haidukova, the meeting lasted several hours and was
the first since the transfer of her son to the KGB remand prison in
Minsk. "The lawyer came to him at ten o'clock and talked with
him till afternoon, but doesn't tell any details". The lawyer
was only able to say that Andrew kept properly, looked good and said
that he was healthy. Before this, the lawyer could not meet with his
client: the permission was given, but the meeting did not happen as
the KGB prison allegedly was short of the meeting rooms. On 19
February, Human Rights Center "Viasna" and the Belarusian
Helsinki Committee, issued a statement in which they demanded
transparency and compliance with all procedural norms in the case of
Andrei Haidukou, providing him with adequate protection and
realization of his rights in accordance with the Belarusian
legislation and international obligations. On 28 February, civil
activist Yauhen Kanstrantsinau was questioned on Haidukou's case at
Minsk KGB.
On 14 February, wife of former presidential
candidate Andrei Sannikau, journalist Iryna Khalip was allowed to
temporary leave Belarus. "I was called to the penal inspection
of Partyzanski District Police Department where I am registered. The
head of the penal inspection Natallia Kaliada informed me that my
application was approved, and I could visit my husband and the
editorial office of "Novaya Gazeta" before 3 April,"
said Iryna Khalip. "But my status remains unchanged. I am still
an arrestee awaiting a trial in July, at which they will decide what
to do with me." On 18 February I. Khalip came to get registered
at Partyzanski District Police Department. However, in the room of
the head of the criminal executive inspection she was met by another
official – the head of the supervisory and executive department of
Main Police Department of Minsk City Executive Committee Aliaksandr
Kupchenia. "Instead of giving me the register for putting my
signature Kupchenia asked when exactly I was going abroad. I
explained that I hadn't determined the day of my travel to husband
yet, as far as my child was ill. Then Kupchenia started shouting: "We
have opened the border for you, and you refuse going. Tell me the
truth, you didn't intend to go anywhere. You didn't think you'd be
given permission. And we did it, contrary to your expectations. Take
your child, go there and get political asylum, but do not come back
here! You are not needed here! You only distort facts!"
Obviously, the sputtering colonel shouted somebody else's words.
Didn't he realize he was blatantly violating not only the law, but
also the duty instructions? After all, he threatened me and openly
provoked to a violation of the regime of sentence. And he didn't do
it somewhere on the street, he did it in the penal inspection, while
performing his office duties. Now I understand that they just want to
expel from the country, like it was done with dissidents in the
USSR," said the journalist.
On 18 February it was
reported that Ihar Alinevich got the first food parcel since May
2012. His mother Valiantsina Alinevich said she had a short meeting
with her son. V. Alinevich noted that the administration kept
prohibiting Ihar to study in vocational school in Navapolatsk penal
colony #10 for the third year already. "Despite the fact that my
song has a higher education, he is committed to further development.
In order not to waste time, he tried to get permission to study at
the vocational school in the colony. It's also a chance for him to
feel like a man sitting at a desk in a warm room, which cannot be
done in prison. But the administration has repeatedly denied Ihar
this opportunity without explaining its decision. It should say that
other prisoners were allowed to study," commented the woman.
On
19 February Tamara Vaskovich, grandmother of an activist of the
organizing committee of the party "Belarusian Christian
Democracy" Yauhen Vaskovich, stated she hadn't received letters
from him for more than a month. After end of the trial he was kept in
the penal cell for almost every fourth day. Since May 2011, he had 40
penalties and was put in the penal cell more than 20 times, spending
more than 150 days there.
On 19 February it became known that
political prisoner Aliaksandr Frantskevich was placed in a penal cell
in Ivatsevichy penal colony for 20 days. This was reported by his
mother Tatiana Frantskevich. This is the fourth case since the moment
of imprisonment, the last time he was kept in the penal cell for ten
days before the New Year. "Harder conditions of detention are
created for those who refuse to write clemency petitions for
Lukashenka. This is done in order to undermine their moral strength
and will," said T. Frantskevich. She says the son started having
problems with his stomach in jail, that's why she prepared for him a
medical packet. A long-term meeting with the son was appointed on
May.
Death penalty
On 11 February Liubou
Kavaliova, the mother of Uladzislau Kavaliou executed by shooting on
charges of terrorism, was declared "Person of the year 2012 in
Vitsebsk". The woman is an active advocate of the abolition of
the death penalty in Belarus.
On 13 February it became known
that the review appeal filed in September 2012 against the death
sentence to Uladzislau Kavaliou was still pending. Counsel Stanislau
Abrazei applied to the head of the Supreme Court with the demand to
immediately consider it.
Enforced disappearances
On
12 February, representatives of political parties, social movements
and human rights organizations met to develop a common tactics that
would allow to prevent the closure of the criminal cases concerning
the disappearance of former Interior Minister Yury Zakharanka,
politician Viktar Hanchar, businessman Anatol Krasouski and
journalist Dzmitry Zavadsky. The cases can be closed due to the
expiry of the terms of investigation. BHC lawyer Hary Pahaniaila
reported that relatives of the missing and their officials had
prepared a petition to the Prosecutor General of Belarus with the
request to extend the investigation of these cases. Deputy Chairman
of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" Valiantsin Stefanovich
identified three main sets of actions: 1. legal actions under the
national law and 2. international ones, including the presentation of
complete and accurate information to the UN Special Rapporteur on
Belarus, Miklos Haraszti, and the use of other instruments, including
the UN Human Rights Committee, 3. informational ones, designed to
work with the community and public opinion. The meeting participants
approved the idea of a national report on the missing and its broad
presentation, creation of professional documentaries, and a wide
collection of signatures by means of electronic
petitions.
Harassment of human rights defenders and
human rights organizations
On 7 February 7 Hrodna human
rights defender Uladzimir Khilmanovich was detained by the border
guards and customs officers of the border crossing point "Bruzgi"
while returning from Poland by Bialystok-Hrodna shuttle. His
belongings were searched, after which the human rights defender had
to wait for about an hour to be issued with a copy of the search
report. Then he was returned his passport, put on another bus and
finally allowed to continue his trip after a 2.5 hour detention on
the border.
On 17 February, Hrodna human rights defenders
Uladzimir Khilmanovich, Raman Yurhel and Viktar Sazonau filed review
complaints to the chairman of Hrodna Region Court against verdicts of
Hrodna City Court and Hrodna Region Court which confirmed the
legality of their administrative punishment for publishing photos on
the web, which was qualified as an unauthorized picket. The human
rights defenders had been sentenced to administrative fines of half a
million each for the photos in which they could be seen holding
portraits of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski, head of the Human
Rights Center "Viasna".
On 25 February, officers of
the Ministry of Dues and Taxes of the Republic of Belarus came to the
office of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee without any warning. They
passed to the head of the organization, Aleh Hulak, a warrant for
arrest and/or seizure of property and the notice about the actions
aimed at identifying the property of the payer. BHC has to pay to the
budget over 284 million Belarusian rubles as taxes and penalties for
the grants from the European Commission which were received in
2002-2003 and were exempt from taxes.
Intensification
of pressure on the social security services and political
activists
On 14 February Frunzenski District Police
Department of Minsk refused to bring a criminal case against the
unidentified people who had assaulted activist of "European
Belarus" Yulia Stsiapanava. In the official response to Yuliya
Stsiapanava it was stated that there was no criminal corpus delicti
in the actions of the offenders and they could only be punished with
up to 15 days of arrest under the Code of Administrative Offenses. In
the document received by Yuliuya, it is also stated that the actions
of the strangers manifest a hostile attitude to her social
activities. An activist said that the police admit political
implications of the case, but it are not going to look for the
criminals and bring them to the proportionate liability. The activist
applied to the police after being attacked by unidentified people in
the night of 14 January near the porch of her house. The offenders
used foul language to express their attitude to her political
convictions and activities in support of political prisoners, threw
her in the snow with her face down and cut her hair.
Administrative prosecution of social and political
activists, arbitrary detention
On 1 February civil
activist Ales Mekh was detained in a queue for phluorography. The
officer of the local police department Anatol Dzhyha didn't like
Mekh's private conversation with a neighbor about the new loans taken
by Belarus. A. Dzhyha led him out of the queue, then to the street
and called the KGB. Instead of the expected KGB car there arrived a
police "Niva" which took them to Kobryn District Police
Department. A KGB officer came up to Mr. Mekh and started speaking
about something that had nothing to do with the aforementioned
situation. The activist told him that he needed to know the
Belarusian language and speak it if he defended the state security.
The talk with the KGB officer ended, and Mr. Mekh was taken to an
office room where he was told to write an explanatory note. He wrote
that an unknown man in mufti who hadn't introduced himself led him
out of the queue.
In the night of 1-2 February, about ten
policemen in mufti came to Minsk club "6 A", a place of
gatherings of LGBT community, for the third examination during the
last month. They put down the passport data of the present people,
about 40 of whom were detained for identification. All of them were
guarded to the police department. One of the boys, who demanded that
a police officer introduce himself, was forcedly dragged to the bus
and then fastened to the seat with handcuffs. All detainees were
forbidden to use mobile phones and promised to be kept at the police
department till the evening. The pressure on the LGBT community in
Belarus started about a week after the submission of documents for
registration of LGBT organization to the Ministry of Justice.
On
5 February activist from the city of Biarozauka Vitold Ashurak
received a notification from Lida District Court, according to which
was to pay 150,000 rubles for legal expenses incurred by Svislach
District Court. The case was related to his arrest on 27 October 2012
for holding a white-red-white flag during a memorial action in honor
of insurgents of 1863 and subsequent arrest for three days on verdict
of Svislach District Court. Mr. Ashurak paid the expenses for
foodstuffs during the prison term in the due time. However, now he is
also required to pay for the court expenses related to the trial.
Before this, Vitold Ashurak received an official letter stating that
he had to pay 78,000 rubles for detention in December 2010, the cost
of which was recalculated, as a result of which some strange
surcharge was imposed.
On 7 February "Alternative"
activist Dzmitry Silchanka was sentenced to ten days of arrest by
Savetski District Court of Minsk under Article 23.34 of the
Administrative Code, violation of the order of organization or
holding mass events, for participating in a flash mob dedicated to
the official unemployment rate in Belarus. On 29 January activists of
the "Alternative" attached to the fence near Kamarouski
market some improvised mannequins which which symbolized the
unemployed, holding posters: "Like the other 1.5 million
Belarusians, I'm going to work in Moscow," "The authorities
ignore me", "I can not buy anything at the market" and
others. The activists were summoned to the police station for a
preventive conversation. Only Dzmitry Silchanka went there, whereas
all others refused to come to the DPD without their lawyers.
On
12 February Minsk City Court considered the appeal of Salihorsk
activist of the public initiative "European Belarus"
Uladzimir Lemesh against the verdict of Pershamaiski District Courtof
Minsk, according to which he was fined three million rubles for
allegedly disobeying policemen in plain clothes. The trial lasted
just fifteen minutes, the complaint was turned down.
On 16
February Vitsebsk member of the organizing committee of the
Belarusian Christian Democracy party and Aliaksei Kishchuk and
Stanislau Laurenau were detained for an action of solidarity with
political prisoners and taken to Kastrychnitski District Police
Department. The action took place in the center of Vitsebsk, near the
Summer Amphitheater. Aliaksei Kishchuk and Stanislau Laurenau
unfurled a banner with the word "Freedom!" and took out
portraits of political prisoners. That's all they managed to do, as a
police car arrived several minutes after it. The detainees were
charged under Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses,
participation in an unauthorized mass event. The trial started on 18
February. Before that, the activists were kept at remand prison.
The hearings were postponed on 21 February as the defendants
solicited for being provided with advocatory services. On 21 February
Judge of Kastrychnitski District Court of Vitsebsk Ina Hrabouskaya
sentenced Stanislav Laurenau and Aliaksei Kishchuk to fines of 3
million rubles, declaring them guilty of holding an unsanctioned
rally. At the trial, both the activists did not plead guilty, trying
to prove they just expressed their opinions.
On 20 February
Aliaksandr Kalyshka, head of the civil association "Polish
Culture in Lida area", was tried at Lida District Court for
laying flowers and lighting candles on the place of the burial of
priest Adam Falkouski together with his friends. Judge Siarhei Pipko
found the activist guilty of organizing an unauthorized rally. On 22
Mr. Kalyshka was sentenced to a fine of 2.5 million rubles.
On
21 February sculptor Henik Loika held a one-man picket at the
entrance to the gymnasium #4 in Minsk, protesting against the
russification of school teaching in Belarusian. He unfurled a poster
"Happy Native Language Day! Gymnasium № 4 was the last one
with the Belarusian language of instruction." The sculptor was
detained on the way home. On the same day Frunzenski District Court
of Minsk charged him with participating in an unsanctioned rally and
sentenced him to 5 days of arrest.
At about 1 p.m. on 24
February about ten activists of cultural and educational movement
"European Action" were detained in Viasnianka suburb of
Minsk where they gathered to take part in an organized jogging. A
paddy wagon was waiting for them near "Minsk-Arena". The
police accused the activists of hooliganism. The detainees were kept
I the delinquents' isolation center in Akrestsin Street during the
night before the trial. The court hearings were held behind closed
doors. Anatol Naumovich was sentenced to 15 days of arrest, all
others received 10-15 days of arrest. One of the activists pleaded
guilty at the trial and was sentenced only to 2 days of arrest.
On
25 February Pershamaiski District Police Department demanded that
former political prisoner Mikita Likhavid serve 10 days of
administrative arrest for participation in the protest rally of 19
December 2010. Local police inspector told Mr. Likhavid that he was
to come to the delinquents' isolation center in Akrestisn Street on
his own. According to him, he got an appropriate document from
Pershamaiski DPD, not only concerning Likhavid, but also concerning
many other people who hadn't served arrest terms till the end. The
paper explains that there are no time limitations for such cases.
Mikita Likhavid concerns such decision as unlawful, as far as ore
than two years passed since the issue of the verdict. Moreover, he
served a prison term for the participation in the aforementioned
rally, and no one cannot be punished twice for the same violation.
On 28 February one of the leaders of the youth organization
"Zmena" Pavel Vinahradau was sentenced to 7 days of arrest
by Judge of Maskouski District Court of Minsk Yauhen Khatkevich, for
violation of the regime of preventive supervision. The matter was
that on 22 February Mr. Vinahradau took part in a party dedicated to
the third anniversary of the establishment of the civil initiative
"Tell the Truth" in "Zhuravinka" restaurant,
whereas the rules of preventive supervision prohibit visiting the
places where alcoholic beverages are served – cafes, restaurants
and bars. Pavel Vinahradau was arrested on 28 February, when he came
to the police for weekly registration, and was immediately taken to
court. He didn't deny being present at the party.
Restrictions
on freedom of speech and the right to impart information, persecution
of journalists
On 4 February the Ministry of
Information refused to re-register the "ARHE" magazine with
the new founder. According to Acting Editor of "ARHE-Pachatak"
Ales Pashkevich, this time the ministry was dissatisfied with the
procedure of filing the documents, although it completely repeated
the previous attempt.
On 6 February, the first day of the
International Book Fair in Minsk, the presentation of a new novel by
Uladzimir Niakliayeu was to have taken place at the stand of the
Polish Embassy among the books which were on the short-list of
Giedroyc Literary Prize. Organizers of the exhibition came up to the
staff of the Polish Embassy and prohibited to hold the presentation
of Niakliayeu's book, but it was started in an improvised manner.
Soon the host, poet Andrei Hadanovich, was approached by the guards
who gave him five minutes to curtail the presentation. At the same
time, an autograph-session of Uladzimir Niakliayeu was prohibited at
the stand of "Lohvinau" bookstore.
On 14 February
Chairman of Vitebsk regional BPF branch Leanid Autukhou addressed the
head of TV company "Vitsebsk" Anatol Kamovich with a
proposal to create a new TV show of social and political orientation.
In response, A.Kamovich sent a polite refusal, citing a lack of
funding. "Your offer is very sensible, but the creation of new
projects is not planned this year due to lack of funds", stated
the head of the TV company in his answer. According to L. Autukhou,
such a program on television would be fully consistent with the
declared right to free access to information, which supposedly exists
in Belarus. Meanwhile, Vitsebsk TV hasn't had such a program for many
years, and not for financial reasons, but for ideological ones.
On
15 February it was announced that Belarus was among the ten most
censored countries. It was the conclusion of the International
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). CPJ notes that Aliaksandr
Lukashenka ruled one of the most "censored" countries in
the world, continuing the policy of suppressing critical journalism
and freedom of opinion.
On 18 February independent cameraman
Aliaksandr Barazenka was asked to come to the Minsk City Prosecutor's
Office on 20 February "within the framework of a check-up".
Appropriate notice was sent to the place of Barazenka's official
registration. During the conversation at the prosecutor's office
Barazenka was asked about his work on the TV channel "Belsat"
but he refused to explain anything, referring to Article 27 of the
Constitution, which allows citizens not to testify against
themselves. "I was given a paper which says that I allegedly
violated the law working for foreign media without accreditation,
being a member of "BelSat" staff. I do not agree with this
warning, as such provisions of the law violate my constitutional
rights to gather and disseminate information. But this is a reality
that must be considered, so I will not appeal the warning because I
know it's pointless," said Aliaksandr Barazenka.
On 25
February Navapolatsk activist Yauhen Parchynski received an anonymous
threat call from a person who introduced himself as an officer of the
city administration and advised the activist to remove the article
"Navapolatsk authorities got frightened again" from a local
independent website, threatening with trouble otherwise. The author
of the article wrote that the situation when people were unable to
exercise their right to freedom of expression of ideas and opinions
was abnormal. It was also written that it was possible to get
permission for a mass event under the former head of Navapolatsk City
Executive Committee, but it became absolutely impossible after
Natallia Kachanava replaced him at this position.
On 27
February senior police lieutenant Siarhei Karytkin drew up two
reports of administrative violations on Valery Vusik. The first
report was drawn up for the alleged libel against the chairman of the
"Lebiadzianka" farm Piatro Bialou, and the other – for
the distribution of the independent newspaper "Mahiliouski
Vybar", which was allegedly distributed in violation of Art. 17
of the Law on Mass Media.
On 28 February in the afternoon,
Minsk police detained BelaPAN journalists Vasil Siamashka, Hanna
Afonina and Siarhei Satsiuk who were holding a video poll near the
Academy of Sciences, asking citizens who they would support
financially, the opposition or the authorities. The detainees were
taken Pershamaiski District Department of Minsk. The police put down
their passport data, watched the video and then released the
journalists. At the departure the police officers advised them to
hold their polls in another city district next time.
Restriction
of the freedom of assembly
On 7 February Baranavichy
entrepreneur and civil activist Milakai Charnavus received a letter
signed by the deputy chairman of Baranavichy City Executive Committee
Dz. Kastsiukevich in which it was stated that the committee does not
agree to his holding a rally on 12 February. As it is stated in the
letter, "those who violate the order of organization or holding
mass events cannot be the organizers of mass events within 1 year
after the imposition of an administrative penalty for it".
As
it became known on 25 February, a member of the Conservative
Christian Party BPF Yan Dzyarzhautsau was struggling for the right to
express his their views by means of picketing and other mass actions.
The order of these events is regulated by ruling #881 of Vitebsk City
Executive Committee. The opposition activist tried to litigate with
Vitsebsk city housing utilities and amenities, which he accused of
violating the aforementioned ruling and hindering the realization of
the right to freedom of expression by refusing to conclude agreements
for serving mass events. Mr. Dziarzhautsau demanded that the court
either oblige this institution to conclude a service agreement or
advise the executive committee to amend the ruling so as to ensure
the realization of the right to freedom of expression.
On 27
February chief ideologist of Salihorsk District Executive Committee
Mikalai Maskevich banned a rally in support of the construction of a
new polyclinic. A correspondent application was submitted to the
local authorities on 8 February by a member of the United Civil Party
Viktar Malochka. He intended to hold the picket on 2 March in order
to collect signatures under a petition to the authorities with the
requirement to build a new modern polyclinic in the city. As it was
stated in the application, the collection of signatures was permitted
in the stated place of the action during the 2012 parliamentary
elections and the 2010 presidential elections. However, this argument
did not convince the deputy chairman of the executive committee on
ideology. Mr. Maskevich refused to authorize the picket due to its
incompatibility with the ruling of Salihorsk DEC "On measures to
prevent accidents and rule of law during public events."
On
27 February it became known that the Human Rights Committee of the
United Nations had registered a complaint of Zhlobin members of "Fair
World" concerning the ban of their pickets in 2012 by Zhlobin
District Executive Committee. The head of Zhlobin "Fair World"
branch Valery Rybchanka noted that two such complains had been filed
to the Human Rights Committee. One of them, which was registered by
the committee, concerns the prohibition of pickets in support of
political prisoners in 2012. What concerns the other complaint, which
concerned the rigging of the presidential election in 2010 and the
appeals of party members to various state institutions, the Committee
required more detailed comments on it.
Restriction of
freedom of association
At the press conference of 7
February, the Minister of Justice of Belarus Aleh Slizheuski said
that the Ministry of Justice of Belarus denied registration to 19
public organizations in 2012, including two parties: "Belarusian
Christian Democracy" and "Belarusian Communist Workers
Party". The Minister noted that the founders of the parties
didn't prepare to the holding of the activities they needed to carry
out according to the legislation for the establishment of the
associations. A. Slizheuski reported that 111 new associations,
registered four unions (associations) of public associations and 29
new organizational structures of political parties were registered
with the state in 2012.
On 8 February, the Ministry of Justice
refused to provide the state registration for the National Youth
Human Rights Association "Human Rights Center "Lambda"
(the name under which the human rights project "GayBelarus"
made the second attempt to legalize its activities). The registration
denial was signed by the head of the board of non-profit
organizations of the Ministry of Justice Alena Kirychenka. The
official reason was that the "presented statute of the Human
Rights Center "Lambda" does not contain any provisions
witnessing that the statutory activities of the public association
will seek to provide a comprehensive social formation and development
of young people".
On 14 February Belarusian Ministry of
Justice refused to register the public association "Young
Christian Democrats." A month ago, the Ministry of Justice
suspended the registration of the organization due to the requirement
to provide additional documents, such as the paper confirming the
registration of the constituent assembly, and the agreement for the
lease of premises for the assembly. The organizing committee of
association considered that the presentation of these documents to
the ministry was not required by law, and therefore did not fulfill
this requirement. The founding congress of the organization "Young
Christian Democrats" was held in Minsk on 3 November 2012.
On
21 February the Assembly Democratic NGOs and the Center for Legal
Transformation released an annual survey, "Freedom of
association and the legal status of non-profit organizations in
Belarus" for the year 2012. As noted in the review, "in
2012, opportunities for the exercise of freedom of association in
Belarus weren't extended. No significant changes in the situation of
public associations were registered in the sphere of legislation
despite the introduction of some positive legal norms. The earlier
negative trends persisted in the at the level of enforcement, whose
intensity remained unchanged." The Center for Legal
Transformation also prepared a separate analysis of the registration
of public associations in 2012 and the lists of the non-profit
organizations which were registered or liquidated during the year.
On 25 February it was reported that another activist of the trade
union organization at "Granite" plant was threatened with
dismissal. The administration was trying to find irregularities in
the work of the assistant excavator operator Leanid Dubanosau who was
a member of the local branch of the Belarusian Independent Trade
Union. A special commission kept coming to his working place
everyday. One day he was forced to write two explanatory notes
concerning the allegedly discovered shortcomings in his work. Leanid
Dubanosau has worked at "Granite" for more than twenty
years and hasn't received any reprimands from the company's
management before that. He thinks that the special attitude to him is
connected to his membership in the trade union and the fact that his
labor contract expires on 2 May. As far as Leanid is going to have a
vacation, they want to issue him with a reprimand before his leaving
on holiday in order to have an explanation for not extending the
labor agreement with him.