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Journalist Is Tried for Disrespect to Court
On 2 December Homel Chyhunachny Borough Court started the open trial about which the correspondent of Narodnaya Volia newspaper Iryna Makavetskaya wanted to report. In the beginning of the trial the head of the court Tatsiana Adrybets ordered Makavetskaya to leave the court hall. The journalist refused to do it. Then Adrybets called the police who took Makavetskaya to Homel Chyhunachny Borough Board of Internal Affairs and composed a protocol of violation of article 166 of the Code of Administrative Violations (disrespect to court, up to 15 days of jail as punishment). At present, Makavetskaya is tried. (16-JAN-2005)
Belarusian People’s Front Deprived of Office in Hrodna
Accordig to VIASNA the housing authorities of the city of Hrodna ordered Hrodna organization of Belarusian People’s Front to leave their office in Karl Marx Street. The head of Hrodna BPF organization Mikola Voran believes that such actions of Hrodna authorities create danger for the future existence of the organization. (11-JAN-05)
Criminal Case against “Zubr” Activist
In the night of 8 January the police detained the activist of “Zubr” youth movement Mikita Sasim on the suspicion that he had written “Set Marynich Free!” on several buildings in the center of Minsk reports VIASNA. (11-JAN-05)
People arrested for wearing orange in Minsk
18 opposition activists, mainly youths, were detained in Minsk on the evening of December 28 for participation in solidarity action with the democratic forces of Ukraine after their leader Viktor Yushchenko’s victory in Ukraine`s presidential election, reports Charter97`. (10-JAN-05)
Politically motivated trial against Mikhail Marynich
Minsk, Vienna : The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee believe that criminal charges against leading opposition politician and public figure Mikhail Marynich are politically motivated (27-DEC-04).
Prosecutor’s offices ping-pong a complaint
Several days ago the deputies of deputy soviets of districts of Minsk, members of Belarusian People’s Front Ales Mikhalevich and Yury Ziankovich received the answer to their complaint against the deprivation of the right to be elected. (16-DEC-2004)
More Belarusian officials declared personae non-grata
The European Union decided to prohibit the entrance to its territory to the police colonel Padabed for participation in the beating of the leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Liabedzka during the protest action of 20 October and the head of the Central Election Committee of Republic of Belarus Lidziya Yarmoshyna — for falsification of the results of the parliamentary election and the referendum of 17 October. (16-DEC-2004)
Belarusian Human Rights Activist Apply to Prosecutor General
Minsk: In the morning of 10 December 2004 Belarusian human rights activists gathered near the National Prosecutor’s Office in order to pass their appeal to the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus. According to VIASNA the state prosecutor Barys Zhyldzetski accepted the report (11-DEC-04).
Belarusian Human Rights Defenders under Pressure
Vienna: The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) express their grave concern over the ongoing harassment of human rights defenders in the Republic of Belarus. (7-DEC-2004)