In February 2005 Belarusian prosecutor’s offices of different levels increased the pressurization of well-known oppositional activists. Most often people are summoned concerning criminal cases brought for defamation of president or the authorities or dissemination of undesirable information. (01-MAR-2005)
On 15 February 2005 Dzmitry Salauiou, a human rights activist in Navapolatsk, was summonsed to the prosecutor’s office of Navapolatsk, where he was requested to provide explanations regarding his human rights activity and the issue of the human rights bulletin Nasha Prava (Our Right). A statement issued by Aliaksandr Kamarou, Chair of Navapolatsk Town Executive Committee, had been the reason. The statement argues that the human rights bulletin Nasha Prava widely distributed in Navapolatsk says that Salauiou will help people restore their violated rights free of charge. Dzmitry Salauiou has refused to answer any questions, resorting to the protection provided by Article 27 of the Constitution of Belarus, which provides for the right not to give evidence against oneself.
On 14 February Krychau district prosecutor’s office warned Uladzimir Kudrautsau, the founder and editor of the non-state unregistered newspaper Volny Horad (Free Town). Kudrautsau and the editorial office believe this is pressure applied by the authorities. Kudrautsau was warned that he could be criminally punished for alleged insult of the authorities and calls to revolution.
On 15 February Uladzimir Malei, lawyer of the Human Rights Center Viasna and a deputy of Malaryta District Soviet, was summoned to the prosecutor’s office of Malaryta, where the prosecutor Bilitski handed him a statement of criminal action brought against him “for disseminating knowingly libelous and deceitful information printed in the news bulletin Nasha Slova (Our Word) about Kazimir Lapich, Chair of Malaryta District Executive Committee. The criminal case was initiated on the basis of Part 2 of Art. 188 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. The case concerns the deputy request prepared by U. Malei (also printed in the deputy’s bulletin, in which he pointed out that A. Niakhaieu had illegally appropriated the officially provided apartment in Malaryta after being transferred to a new position (Chair of Ivatsevichy District Executive Committee). Malaryta District Executive Committee even did not require him to leave the officially provided apartment in view of the terminated employment agreement. Kazimir Lapich, the current Chair of Malaryta District Executive Committee, took no measures necessary to remedy the illegal situation but chose to accuse Uladzimir Malei of libel.
On 17 February the human rights activist Liudmila Graznova told Radio Liberty that Paval Radzivonau, investigator the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Belarus who worked at the department which supervises media compliance with legal regulations, wanted her to tell him where she had obtained information to prepare monitoring of human rights violations.
On 24 February the member of United Civil Party Aliaksandr Tsynkievich was summonsed to the prosecutor’s office by the investigator A.A.Mikalaieu, who attempted to interrogate him as a “witness” in the criminal case brought upon part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (willingful libel of president). The problem is that the witness, unlike a defendant, cannot refuse to testify. Mr. Tsynkievich was warned by the investigator to that effect. However, Mr. Tsynkievich refused to answer the investigator’s questions in accordance with Article 27 of the Constitution.
On 24 February Vintsuk Viachorka, the leader of Belarusian People’s Front, was summonsed to the prosecutor’s office because of a criminal case brought against Mr. Viachorka for a press-conference conducted on 15 October by the leaders of the People’s Coalition Five Plus.During the press conference the leaders of the opposition parties argued that the voting procedures could have been fraudulently manipulated in some instances, and showed the journalists draft protocols of the election commissions with totals already there, as well as summary tables for a constituency that contain vote breakdown per polling station.
