News on the topic: Belarus
12.12.2008 Baran: total dactylography is going on
Unknown persons in civvies continue taking workers’ fingerprints at state enterprises of Orsha district. The administration of the enterprises assists them in it. If somebody asks about the legal grounds for such actions, they are shown Xerox copies of an excerpt from the law where the words ‘liable for military service’ are underlined. Those who refuse to give their fingerprints are threatened with having troubles with their bosses. In particular, such cases have been registered today at the unitary enterprise Lios in the town of Baran.
12.12.2008 Pressurization of member of ‘For Freedom’ movement
Officers of law-enforcement agencies pressurize Siarhei Trafimchyk, a member of the unregistered movement For Freedom from the settlement of Biarozauka. On 12 December people in civvies paid a visit to his apartment. They tried to find out the reasons for his critical attitude to the authorities.
09.12.2008 Trial over Barazenka: riot policeman outrage state symbols
Opposition activists flied a flag near the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk. Hearings in the case of political prisoner Alexander Barazenka are taking place today. Rallies of solidarity with the prisoner of conscience are held in front of the building of the court for the second day. Oppositionists are holding a streamer ‘Freedom to Barazenka!’, shouting ‘Freedom to political prisoners!’, ‘Long live Belarus!’
01.12.2008 Authorities disrupt fest in honor of Slutsk uprising
The owner of a Minsk club, where anniversary of the historical event was planned to be marked, was ordered to cancel a lease contract by secret service officers.
01.12.2008 Criminal cases against Yury Karetnikau and Mikhail Sharamet are terminated
On 21 November the former leader of the Right Alliance Yury Karetnikau received a letter from the office of the Prosecutor General. He was informed that the criminal case against him had been terminated.
16.11.2008 BAJ Applied to the Head of the Presidential Administration
The Belarusian Association of Journalists addressed with a letter the Head of Presidential Administration Uladzimir Makey to ask "assistance in solving the problem of distribution of non-state press". 15 editors of non-state Belarusian newspapers signed the appeal.
11.11.2008 KGB is interested in priest’s activities
On 5 November Siarhei Vashkevich, an aide of a protestant pastor Viachaslau Hancharenka at Novaye Zhyttsio church, received a writ from KGB. According to this document, he was to come to Minsk and Minsk oblast KGB department on at 2 p.m. on 10 November for giving explanations.
06.11.2008 Mahiliou: 18-year-old activist is expelled from last year of lyceum
18-year-old activist Stanislau Senakosau has been expelled from Mahiliou professional lyceum #2. According to him, it was revenge for his political activities, while the administration of the lyceum states that the reason is a rude violation of discipline.
04.11.2008 Mass dactiloscopy in Masty
All workers of state enterprises in Masty have to give their finger- and palm prints. Police officers refer to an order of the head of the police department to take fingerprints from all males aged 30-55.
03.11.2008 Expelled pupil Ivan Shyla is not rehabilitated at school
The judge Volha Prakapovich turned down the suit of Ivan’s father Uladzimir Shyla for finding the expulsion of his son from Salihorsk secondary school #4 illegal.
03.11.2008 Police releases under-aged vandals
The two young men who had overturned and broke five crosses in the wooden area of Kurapaty, have been sent to their parents.
30.10.2008 Disabled person without legs punished for streamer “Who has stolen my benefits?”
The court has punished wheelchaired Uladzimir Vusikau for conducting a picket near the building of Mahiliou city executive committee.
14.10.2008 Winners of school Olympiads in chemistry are summonsed to KGB
In Minsk the winners of the school Olympiads in chemistry are summonsed to the KGB office. They are questioned in connection with the blast that had taken place on 4 July in the morning, at the celebration of the official Independence Day. Fingerprints and saliva samples are also taken from them.
13.10.2008 Even children are interrogated concerning ‘blast case’
Yauhen Herasimenka, 9-year-old citizen of the village of Verameiki, was summonsed to the police in connection with the investigation of the case concerning the blast that had taken place on 4 July in Minsk. Yauhen’s mother informed about it Raman Razhdzestvenski, journalist for Krychau newspaper Volny Horad. According to her, the police were going even to take her son’s fingerprints. The boy was to have come to the police department on 9 October, but the mother did not let him go there to save him from possible psychical traumas.
06.10.2008 Police detained a suspect in the case of Minsk blast
The police have detained a citizen of Belarus who is suspected in relation to the blast that had taken place on 4 July in the morning in Minsk. Till lately, 21-year-old Alexander Koryk has worked at the Uladpradimpart enterprise.
