In Belarus many methods are used to persecute public and political activists. One of such methods is dismissal from work. For the first month of the new year two such cases have been registered. (22-JAN-05)


1. The administration of Babuysk Center of Social Service refused to prolong the contract to the leader of Babrusyk Pershamayski borough organization of United Civil Party Iryna Kachan. In 2004 the center was transferred to the contract system of employment.
    
When the term of the contract ended, Iryna was fired from her work. She has no doubt it was a consequence of her oppositional activity — the administration of the center threatened to fire hear during the parliamentary election.
    
Iryna participated in the election as a candidate to the parliament. Her colleagues joined the initiative group and collected signatures for her. However, the center prohibited to them to take the signature lists to the election commission, threatening not to prolong the working contracts to them.
 
  
2. At the last assembly of Belarusian Social Democratic Party “Narodnaya Hramada” Anatol Liawkowich was elected its new head. Recently he has received a reprimand at his work. He says that soon he can be fired.
    
Liawkovich works as a docent at the philosophy department of Brest State University. The reprimand was issued by the rector of the university Mechyslaw Chasnowski for alleged ignorance of the results of the last-year attestation, demonstrated by Mr. Liawkovich. Since the last year the administration of the educational establishment has looked for a reason to get rid of the lecturer, who worked there for more than 25 years.
    
Liawkovich believes the real reason for the reprimand lies in the political field:
    
— Doubtlessly, the reprimand was issued for my political activity. Now they will continue the pressurization with the aim to sack me. You know it’s not an exclusive case. In our society it becomes a widespread practice, the name of which is ban to profession.
    
Mr. Liawkovich also reminded that during the latest years several members of such political parties as “Narodnaya Hramada”, Belarusian People’s Front and Party of Communists of Belarus lost their jobs at the university.