News for May 2005

31.05.2005 STATEMENT of Human Rights Center Viasna concerning the sentence given to the activists of Belarusian democratic opposition Paviel Sieviaryniets and Mikalai Statkievich

30.05.2005 Hrodna Hramada (BSDH) under threat of liquidation

30.05.2005 UCP activist Maryna Bahdanovich had her property confiscated

30.05.2005 The senior editor of the Dien newspaper filed a complaint with the actions of the Dubrovenski Department of Internal Affairs

30.05.2005 Mikhail Kandrashou, an activist of the Barysau branch of the Zubr movement, declared his decision to join the hunger-strike of Zhodzina students

30.05.2005 Human rights activist Raisa Mikhailouskaia asked for political asylum in Canada

28.05.2005 Vaukavysk-based Aslona appeals against a warning

27.05.2005 On 31 May on Tuesday in Tsentralny Borough Court the opposition activists Paval Sieviaryniets and Mikola Statkievich will make their “last statement”. The verdict may be announced on this day.

27.05.2005 BPF Party structures liquidated in Hrodna

27.05.2005 In the evening of 26 May a print-run of the independent newspaper Dien was attached on the Russia-Belarus border

26.05.2005 In Hrodna authorities subscribe people to state newspapers

26.05.2005 The participants of the Hrodna action in commemoration of the sixth anniversary of Iury Zakharanka’s disappearance appeal against the verdicts

26.05.2005 The independent newspaper editor faces three years of restricted freedom

26.05.2005 Mikola Statkievich went on hunger-strike of protest

25.05.2005 In Mahilou two activists of the Zubr resistance movement were punished for the action they staged outside the Mahilou KGB office in commemoration of the anniversary of the disappearance of the former Minister of Interior of Belarus Iury Zakharanka

25.05.2005 The new leadership of the Union of Poles in Belarus received a letter from the Ministry of Justice, which urges a repeated congress of the organization

25.05.2005 On 25 May four members of the Zhodzina-based Young Front went on hunger strike to protest against the wave of expulsions from universities, including secondary schools

25.05.2005 Court put off hearing of the suit filed by the LDPB leader Siarhei Haidukievich against the Narodnaia volia to 3 June

25.05.2005 New law "On Organs of State Security" has taken effect

25.05.2005 United States Commission for International Religious Freedoms of US Congress (USCIRF) presented to the US leadership and the international community a traditional yearly report on the freedom of religious belief in the world

24.05.2005 Six young pickets who protested the renaming of the central Minsk avenue named after Frantsysk Skaryna were detained

24.05.2005 On 25 May at 10 a.m. Leninski Borough Court of Minsk ( 33 Siamashki Street) would start to deal with the suit filed by the deputy of the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly, the LDPB leader, Siarhei Haidukievich against the Narodnaia volia

24.05.2005 On 23 May Mikola Statkievich was arrested for 10 days for disrespecting the court

24.05.2005 A round table discussion held in Hrodna was attended by representatives of six groups representing national minorities. They unanimously supported the members of the Union of Poles in Belarus

24.05.2005 Vitsebski kurier journalists are denied information

24.05.2005 On 23 May, Siarhei Skrabiets, the opposition activist and the former deputy, was charged

24.05.2005 Belarusian Minister of Justice Viktar Halavanau was "surprised to learn that Poland had placed him on the "refused entry" list because of the Ministry decision that recognized as illegitimate the latest congress of the Union of Poles in Belarus".

23.05.2005 Tsentralny Borough Court of Minsk continues to try two activists of the Belarusian democratic opposition Mikola Statkievich and Paval Sieviaryniets

23.05.2005 On 23 May Tsentralny Court of Minsk started hearing the case against the opposition activists Mikola Statkievich and Paval Sieviaryniets

23.05.2005 The procurator's office of Minsk resumed criminal proceedings against the deputy head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Hary Pahaniayla. The human rights activist is suspected of libeling Aliaxandr Lukashenka