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For the Belarusian weekly Zhoda the publication of some of the infamous Mohammed caricatures may have dramatic consequences. Last week Belarusian prosecutors opened a criminal probe into the newspaper that is accused of having incited religious hatred by printing the cartoons. But according to Zhoda’s editor-in-chief the case is politically motivated. (01-MAR-06)
 

The government’s violent dispersal of a peaceful rally held by the “Azadlig” Election Bloc and other political powers on November 26, 2005 had serious resonance both in this country and in the international arena. Azerbaijan’s human rights organizations and well-known legal specialists decided to create a Public Investigation Commission, which held the careful investigation since November and released the report in the end of February.

Thursday February 23 Rafto Price laureate Lidija Yusupova visited the Human Rights House in Oslo to inform Norwegian civil society on the new NGO-law in the Russian Federation that will come into force April 10. One of the consequences of the law is that all financial transfers to Russian NGO´s in the future will have to be approved by the Russian authorities. “The new law will make it even more difficult for Russian NGO´s to do their work.” (28-FEB-06)
 

Thursday February 23 Rafto Price laureate Lidija Yusupova visited the Human Rights House in Oslo to inform Norwegian civil society on the new NGO-law in the Russian Federation that will come into force April 10. One of the consequences of the law is that all financial transfers to Russian NGO´s in the future will have to be approved by the Russian authorities. “The new law will make it even more difficult for Russian NGO´s to do their work.” (28-FEB-06)
 

The police have recorded 450 cases of election violence during this year’s election period, the police boss, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, has said.He, however, hastened to add that the general security situation during the time was “quite good as acknowledged by all the commentators” in the country apart from a few isolated cases of voter intimidation and bribery. (27-FEB-06)
 

On 16 February demonstrations of support for democratic transformation in the Republic of Belarus were held once again in most cities throughout Republic of Poland. The campaigns were organized by Polish non-governmental organizations. Their participants called on the president of Republic of Belarus to ensure that the elections scheduled for 19 March are free and democratic. (24-FEB-06)
 

The government has celebrated Defenders of the Fatherland Day, 23 February, with ceremonial actions and opposition parties and human rights organizations have held protest actions and have carried out requiem for the deceased in Russian army during military service. According to Levada-Center sociologists, 53% of Russian people would try to evade military service by any possible means if they were called up now. (25-FEB-06)
 

The Board of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR) has decided to call off the 4thTraveling Film Festival “Human Rights in Film” in Lublin, scheduled for 22 – 26 February 2006. This was due to the fact that the Chancellor of the Marie Curie-Sk³odowska University (UMCS) issued a ban on the presentation of the exhibition “T-shirt for Freedom”, which was planned as a supporting event by the local organizers of the festival. (24-FEB-06)

On 16 February demonstrations of support for democratic transformation in the Republic of Belarus were held once again in most cities throughout Republic of Poland. The campaigns were organized by Polish non-governmental organizations. Their participants called on the president of Republic of Belarus to ensure that the elections scheduled for 19 March are free and democratic. (24-FEB-06)

MOSTAR – The Norwegian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (NHC) and Nansen Dialogue Centre Mostar organized in February a Human Rights School for high school teachers from Mostar, Konjic and Stolac in Bosnia Hercegovina (BiH). (24-FEB-06)

On the first of March, a criminal case against the chairman of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC), Tatiana Protko, because of tax evasion, was resumed. During the prosecution the last republican Human Rights association might be liquidated and BHC leaders are threatened with seven years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. (04-MARCH-06)

The Human Rights Center Viasna appeals  on the international community and human rights organizations and lodges its strong protest against the unprecedented tide of pressure and intimidation against civil society activists, which occurred on 21 February 2006 in many cities of Republic of Belarus. (23-FEB-06)