News on the topic: political persecution
04.11.2011 Haradok: Leanid Autukhou deprived of his driver’s license
The Haradok road police deprived civil activist Leanid Autukhou of his driver’s license for a year, so that “he wouldn’t drive to People’s Assemblies” (as he heard some police officer say behind his back). He was also fined 280,000 rubles, as he had allegedly committed a gross violation of the traffic rules on his return from the People’s Assembly on 8 October in Vitsebsk.
12.10.2011 Last figurant of “19 December mass riot” case sentenced to three years of personal restraint
The Maskouski District Court of Minsk finished the proceedings concerning the last figurant of the 19 December case, Sviataslau Barananovich. Judge Alena Rudnitskaya found him guilty of participation in the “mass riot” and sentenced him to three years of personal restraint with direction to a penitentiary
11.10.2011 Head of Shklou colony creates obstacles to Mikalai Statkevich’s marriage
Siarhei Yarmalitski, head of penal colony #17 in Shklou, purposefully refuses to sign the statement about the intention to get married, signed by the former presidential candidate, political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich. He also refused to have an audience with civil activist Krystsina Shatsikava.
22.07.2011 Nyaklyayeu and Dzmitryyeu’s sentences not changed
Minsk City Court has not satisfied their appeals.
21.07.2011 Rechytsa activist receives political asylum in Poland
Rechytsa civil activist Viktar Kantsavenka, known as former campaign chief of presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich, has received political asylum in Poland, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.
14.06.2011 Provocation against Zmitser Dashkevich was staged by non-staff policemen
“Beaten” passers-by turned out to be non-staff workers of the Zavadski District Police Department of Minsk.
03.06.2011 Hrodna: human rights defender Rutkouskaya appeals fine
On 25 May Sviatlana Rutkouskaya, a member of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee from Hrodna, was fined by the head of the Leninski District Police Department, lieutenant colonel Yauhen Yarmantovich. The matter is that Rudkouskaya, being the head of a local housing cooperative, had allegedly failed to issue the complaint book to a citizen, thus violating Article 9.24 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus.
16.05.2011 Analytical review of the court proceedings on the criminal case of Daronin, Fedarkevich, Kazakou, Loban, Matsukevich and Sakret
The trial of the criminal case against Daronin, Fedarkevich, Kazakou, Matsukevich and Sakret took place on 5-11 March at the Maskouski District Court of Minsk. The case was tried by Judge Alena Shylko with participation of the state accuser Melnikau, Deputy Prosecutor of the Maskouski District of Minsk. The defendants were charged under Article 293, part 2 of the Criminal Code (direct participation in mass riot). On 12 May the court found them guilty under Article 293, part 2.
16.05.2011 More verdicts to participants of 19 December protest rally. Presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau sentenced to 5 years in medium security colony
The Belarusian presidential candidate was sentenced for his protest against the falsified elections. The judgement was delivered by judge Natallia Chatsviartkova. Prosecutor Anton Zaharouski demanded to give Andrei Sannikau 7 years in a medium security penal colony.
16.05.2011 Andrei Sannikau was tortured and threatened in KGB prison
On 13 May the trial of Andrei Sannikau, a presidential candidate, continued at the Partyzanski District Court of Minsk. The defendant told about threats of the KGB Chairman Zaitsau (Zajtsev) and about tortures in the KGB remand prison.
12.05.2011 Criminal cases of participants of 19 December post-election protest action: verdict to Daronin, Fedarkevich, Kazakou, Loban, Matsukevich and Sakret
On 12 May Alena Shylko, Judge of the Maskouski District Court of Minsk, pronounced the sentences to six participants of the post-election protest action of 19 December 2010 in Minsk.
12.05.2011 Grim record: 27 participants of 19 December post-election rally are being tried
On 11 May the Zavadski District Court of Minsk started trying the criminal case under Article 342, “organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate the public order, or active participation in such actions”, brought against Iryna Khalip, Siarhei Martsaleu and Pavel Seviarynets.
12.05.2011 Political prisoner Zmitser Bandarenka transferred to prison in Valadarski Street
On 10 May a political prisoner Zmitser Bandarenka was transferred from the KGB jail into the prison in Valadarski Street.
12.05.2011 Analytical review of the trial on the criminal case of Drozd, Khamichenka, Kirkevich, Pratasenia and Vinahradau
During the court proceedings there wasn't presented any evidence that a mass riot, accompanied with the aggregate of such actions as personal violence, destruction of property and armed resistance to public agents, had really taken place in Nezalezhnasts Square on 19 December 2010.
10.05.2011 Dar'ya Korsak: prisoners were threatened with Tasers
Dar'ya Korsak, the wife of the political prisoner Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, managed to talk to him during the open house day at the penal colony Vitsba-3.
