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On 9 July Leanid Svetik, who is accused under Article 130, part 1 of the Criminal Code (fomentation of national and religious enmity), had his last plea at Vitsebsk oblast court. He pleaded innocent and stated that the criminal case was the revenge of the authorities for his human rights activities. Then the judge stated that the verdict will be pronounced on 16 July.

Members of the Human Rights House Network have called on the Belarusian authorities to immediately release youth activist Artsiom Dubski from the pre-trial detention, to refuse from the practice of politically motivated reprisals towards the country’s citizens and to completely abolish the penalties to all participants of the ‘Process of 14’ who are serving them now.

Organisations of the Human Rights House Network condemn the unlawful detention and call for an immediate release of Emin Milli (Abdullayev), Coordinator of Alumni Network (AN) Youth Organization and leader of ANTV Online TV, and one of OL Youth Organization’s coordinators, well-known video-blogger Adnan Hajizade. According to the information received by the Human Rights House Republic of Azerbaijan, Emin Milli (Abdullayev) and Adnan Hajizade were detained on 8 July 2009.

On 7 July Belarusian youth activist Artsiom Dubski was convicted to one year in general security prison. The Asipovičy distrct court passed a verdict effectively putting the young man behind bars right away, in a court house. Belarusian human rights defenders yet again are concerned with the fact that Belarusians can get steep jail sentences for taking part in peaceful demonstrations.

HRH Network has joined the campaign “No to Article 193.1!” The campaign is headed by the NGO Assembly and its goal is to force cancellation of the article 193.1 of the Belarusian Criminal Code.

More than 30 organisations of the Human Rights House Network express our deep regret that Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus establishes criminal responsibility for activities of unregistered civil organizations.

The Belarusian Human Rights House is presenting the Follow-Up Note for the UN Human Rights Committee on the case of the well-known Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski (Alexander Belyatsky) et al. versus Republic of Belarus considering the repetead non-registration by the Government of the human rights NGO “Nasha Viasna”.

The Belarusian parliament will remain stigmatised by Europe unless the death penalty is abolished. On 23 June the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution to lift the suspension of Special Guest status for the Parliament of Republic of Belarus with a condition that is directly related to one of the fundamental human rights – the right to life.

Mikalai Autokhovich, who is considered a political prisoner by human rights defenders, is suspected in one more crime according to Article 295.3 of the Belarusian Criminal Code. He is incriminated illegal activities with weapons and ammunition.