News for 28 жніўня 2007
Benita Ferrero-Waldner Dismayed by New Arrests and Detentions in Belarus
On 24 August the EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner stated: ‘Following the arrest and detention of several members of the Belarusian democratic opposition in July, which I had strongly condemned, I am dismayed by the new arrests and detentions reported over the last days, including that of Mr. Severinets, who was also among those detained in July. I call once again on the Belarusian authorities to release all those detained on political grounds without delay, and to respect the inalienable rights of the people of Belarus to assemble peacefully and express themselves freely.
27 August 1937 – Day of First Mass Fusillade in Minsk
On 27 August 2007 there have turned 70 years since the first mass fusillade of Belarusian intellectuals. On 27 August 1037 NKVD butchers shot a group of archeologists, teachers and Catholic priests, all in all more than 50 persons. A mournful event in their memory took place in Kurapaty wood.
Homel: United Civil Party Applies to Prosecutor’s Office Concerning Office Trespass
On 28 August Homel regional UCP organization applied to the head of Chyhunachny district police department of Homel and to the district prosecutor’s office in connection with an illegal police raid to its office. During their visit the police examined the office, videoed it and detained the present people.
Mahiliou: Police Release Under-aged Activists
At about 8 p.m. on 27 August the under-aged youth activists Aleh Kashtanau and Rastsislau Pankratau were taken to a police station of Leninski district police department of Mahiliou. The detention was ordered by a deputy chair of Mahiliou regional police department, who stated that he had seen them handing out white-red-white stripes and passing a white-red-white flag to each other.
Do Mahiliou Medics Finally Get Punished for Detaining Shatsikava?
On 23 August the college board of Mahiliou regional court refused to bring a criminal case on the fact of kidnap of a public activist Krystsina Shatsikava and her illegal placement to a hospital. Two days later Shatsikava received a letter in which the head of Mahiliou regional department of health care Valery Malashka indirectly confessed that her rights had been violated by medics of Mahiliou mental hospital.
Pavel Seviarynets Is Allowed to Have Radio, but Prohibited to Meet with Mother
On 19 August the youth leader Pavel Seviarynets was detained in Brest during presentation of his book Letters from Forest. On 22 August he was sentenced to 15 days of jail.
‘Arena’ Music Club Closed on Order of Minsk Authorities
According to the director of the musical club Arena Ihar Shabetnik the club can no longer issue any performance certificates for concerts because of the appropriate order of the main police department of Minsk city executive committee.
Brest Police Continue Detaining Youth
In the night of 26 August in Brest the police detained the youth activists Mikhail Illin, Andrei Sharenda and Yuliya Shashko who were sticking leaflets ‘Freedom to Seviarynets’. The detainees were kept at Leninski police department of Brest for three hours and were released after the policemen composed the detention, violation and confiscation reports. Next week the activists will be tried.
Detentions and Trials in Niasvizh
In the night of 24-25 August in Niasvizh the police detained four youth activists: Nasta Azarka, A.Dubski, A.Zhukau and Nasta Palazhanka. They were charged with hooliganism for writing ‘Belarus is Sacred’ on a fence. The activists had to spend the rest of the night at Niasvizh district police department. The police ignored Palazhanka’s demand to call a defense lawyer.
Justice Ministry Refuses to Register ‘Viasna’
According to the official site of the Ministry of Justice, ‘the charter of the association does not comply with the law of the Republic Belarus on public associations’.
Homel Police Detain Participants of Meeting with Pastor Sabila
On 26 August in Homel several civil society activists were seized by the police at a meeting with the pastor of an outlawed Protestant church Ernest Sabila. The pastor of the Belarusian Evangelic Church came to the city to meet with members of the Frantsishak Skaryna Belarusian Language Society. Held at the city`s office of the United Civic Party, the meeting was attended by about 20 people.
Aliaksei Shydlouski in Jail again
On 27 August the police detained a youth leader Aliaksei Shydlouski and took him to the remand jail in Akrestin Street in Minsk.
Minsk Youth Hold Action of Protest against Beating of Girls by Police
On 26 August an action of protest against illegal detainments and beatings of the youth opposition activists took place at the crossroads of Niamiha and Haradsky Val streets in the center of Minsk. 20 people installed a street banner ‘When you are at home they are beating up girls’ and the posters running about the events of 16 August.
