The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

22.01.2010 Teacher quits opposition party due to pressure by authorities

Syarhei Klimyanok, a teacher from Vileika, took a decision to withdraw from the United Civil Party.

As the website ucpb.org reminds, Taisia Danilevich, the head of the Education Department of the Minsk region executive committee, demanded the teacher to leave the party. In case UCP member Syarhei Klimyanok refuses to obey, the school staff will face problems. As a result, the oppositionist had to quit the party.

15.01.2010 Parole granted to Ales Charnyshou, figurant of ‘Process of 14’

Ales Charnyshou, a figurant of the ‘Process of 14’, instigated against participants of a peaceful rally of entrepreneurs in January 2008, was amnestied.

06.01.2010 Case of political prisoners Autukhovich and Asipenka taken to Supreme Court

The case was taken to court on 30 December, the date of the trial is unknown. BelaPAN learnt this from Autukhovich’s lawyer Pavel Sapelka and Asipenka’s lawyer Tamara Sidarenka.

15.12.2009 Minsk court reversed verdict to Andrei Bandarenka

The College Board of Minsk city court reversed the verdict of the Pershamaiski district court concerning the case of Andrei Bandarenka. The reason is that not all of the case materials have been examined and the court showed a tendentious approach during the trial. The case was returned to the Pershamaiski district court for the second trial. Bandarenka’s lawyer Zmitser Layeuski does not rule out that the trial can take place in January.

09.12.2009 A return to NKVD practice

On 8 December the national security commission of the Chamber of Representatives held an extended sitting for discussion of some amendments to the laws by the deputies and invited specialists.

04.12.2009 ‘European Belarus’ activist demands investigation of his abduction

Uladzimir Lemesh has lodged a complaint to the Prosecutor’s office of the Tsentralny district of Minsk, requiring procuracy check in connection with his abduction by the police on 27 November.

04.12.2009 Activist of Belarusian Christian Democracy dismissed from job

Recently a press-conference of co-chairmen of the organising committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democratic Party (BCD) Aliaksei Shein, Vital Rymasheuski and Heorhi Dzmitruk has taken place held. They stated that crackdown on founders of the party had become unprecedented and systematic, BelaPAN informs.

16.11.2009 Santa Clauses received answer from Office of Prosecutor General

The General Prosecutor’s Office found the activities of Santa Clauses on New Year’s Eve illegal. The group of Santa Clauses will be brought to responsibility if it will be established that they take systematic part in an unregistered organization, says the letter of the General Prosecutor’s Office.

15.10.2009 ‘Santa Clauses’ surrender to prosecutor’s office on grounds of Article 193.1

Members of the liquidated Human Rights Center Viasna were among those who took part in the procession of Santa Clauses to the office of the prosecutor general of Belarus. By this unusual representatives of many unregistered civil associations wanted to remind the authorities about Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code that envisages criminal persecution for activities on behalf of unregistered organizations.

09.10.2009 UCP member Andrei Bandarenka sentenced to seven years of imprisonment

The party leaders believe it is a ‘political sentence’ Despite the absence of sufficient evidence of misappropriation of 20 million rubles.The former independent MP candidate and businessman was sentenced by Pershamaiski district court to 7 years of imprisonment with property confiscation

09.10.2009 KGB refuses to return confiscated things to Alexander Atroshchankau

Two years have passed today since the property of European Belarus activist Alexander Atroshchankau was illegally confiscated. The democratic activist tries to return his property, but all in vain, the website European Belarus reports.

08.10.2009 New suspect in Autukhovich’s case

The resident of Hrodna Mikhail Kazlou became the fourth suspect in the criminal case of Mikalai Autukhovich. The human rights activist Aleh Vouchak learned it from the document according to which the investigation is extended to 8 November.