The authorities in the city of Viciebsk have taken another repressive action against Vitsebsky Kurier, the oldest and currently only one independent newspaper in Eastern Belarus.
Late at night the Police stopped a car and violently arrested the newspaper’s chief editor and a journalist who had 10 000 copies of the latest edition of the newspaper in the car. (more…)
Today the authorities in the town of Shklou, Belarus, sentenced Mikola Statkevich, former oppositional presidential candidate, to a three-year prison term in ”closed regime”. (more…)
On January 6, 2012 a new amendment to a law restricting Internet access in Belarus came into force. According to the Global Legal Monitor (of the Law Library of the US Congress) the law “imposes restrictions on visiting and/or using foreign websites by Belarusian citizens and residents. Violation of these rules is recognized as a misdemeanor and is punished by fines of up to US$125”. (more…)
Following the trial against leading Belarusian human rights defender Ales Byalyatski, the Council of the European Union decided on December 16, 2011, to reinforce restrictive measures against the Belarusian regime and those involved in repressions against the democratic opposition and civil society. The Council added two more people – who have been involved in the trial of human rights defender Ales Byalyatski – to the list of those subject to an asset freeze and a ban from entering the EU.
Meanwhile, December 19, Belarusians marked the one year anniversary of the presidential elections of 2010, which ended in rare mass protests and a exceptional wave of repressions; a ruthless crackdown including targeted harassment of the opposition, independent journalists, as well as the rest of the Belarusian civil society.
On the eve of the election December 19, 2010, nearly 50,000 people gathered in the city centre of Minsk, as President Alexandr Lukashenka was declared the winner of a fraud-tainted ballot, in which each of his nine rivals was awarded less than 3 percent of the vote. At least 700 peaceful demonstrators were brutally arrested as authorities cracked down on the protest. Two of the oppositional candidates in the presidential election, are still in prison – Andrei Sannikau and Mikola Statkevitj.
Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou has by the Belarusian Supreme Court been sentenced to death for the bombings in the Minsk subway that killed 15 people on April 11 this year. Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou are not affiliated with the Belarus political opposition and the witch hunt of the opposition that many feared would be a result of the bombing, has not been realized.
The Belarusian human rights organization Viasna (whose leader recently was sentenced to several years imprisonment) condemns the death penalty as such and believes that the investigation into the explosion in Minsk subway, as well as the trial of Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou, was neither professional nor convincing:
“Observers report serious procedural violations during the preliminary investigation and the judicial examination. The defendants’ right to legal protection has been gravely restricted. The defendants’ reports of physical and psychological pressure during the preliminary investigation failed to be properly examined. Numerous motions by the defense lawyers, aimed at clearing up the irregularities and contradictions of the presented evidence, were groundlessly dismissed.”
Viasna explains on its website that during the trial a number of victims have expressed doubt that Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou have been involved in terrorist attacks.
Today Ales Bialiatski, head of the leading Belarusian human rights organisation Viasna, the most well-known human rights defender in Belarus and Vice- President of International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), was sentenced to four and a half years of imprisonment in a reinforced prison.
He was also sentenced to confiscation of property and a fine of about $ 83 000 for “concealment of profits on an especially large scale in pursuance of prior agreements” in accordance with the article 243, part 2, of the Criminal Code. The trial, that was held in The Pershamaiski District Court of the City of Minsk, was followed by delegations from international human rights defenders, oppositional politicians and a lot of foreign diplomats. (more…)
Everything points to the fact that the Belarusian regime is struggling not only with a severe economic crisis but also with a conceptual crisis and is no longer able to produce a long-term strategy adequate to the scale of current threats, writes Kamil Kysiñski at the Center for Eastern Studies.
As a result of this, Alexander Lukashenko will be forced in the short term to make concessions to Russia, which will gradually restrict his independence. On the other hand, it will allow him to delay the danger of an uncontrollable social revolt. And, writes Kamil Kysiñski, everything points to a further escalation of repression aimed at the regime’s opponents.
16 new individuals have been added to the list of those who are responsible for repressions and human rights violations in Belarus. The individuals on this list are banned from traveling to the EU. In addition, the assets in the European Union, of the listed persons, will be frozen.
Today the Council of the EU has reviewed sanctions against the Belarusian regime for its crackdown on opposition, repressions against civil society and independent journalists, as well as violations of international electoral standards during the presidential elections 2010.
Nearly 200 people were already subject to an asset freeze and travel ban.
On the third day of the Book Fair, JHS focused on Belarus and Internet Freedom.
In a seminar in the morning, Andrey Dmitriev, member of the opposition in Belarus, and Brit Stakston, expert on social media, discussed under lead of Cecilia Brinck, Member of the Swedsih Parliament. (more…)
The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) and Freedom House have presented a groundbreaking report: “Democratic Change in Belarus – A Framework for Action”. The document is based on the findings and researches of the Belarus Working Group by gathering the leading scholars, analysts, practitioners, and issue experts identifying sustainable and impactful Western strategies for supporting Belarusian civil society and dealing with “Europe’s last dictatorship.”
The ongoing political repressions and violations against human rights in Belarus has intensified the attention of the U. S. and the European Union to “Europe’s last dictatorship.” (more…)
Andrej Pachobut, a well-known journalist of Poland’s largest newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza and democratic activist in Belarus, has been passed a three year suspended sentence after being found guilty of defamation of President Lukashenka by the Court in Hrodna.
The state prosecutor asked the court to sentence Andrej Pachobut to three years in prison. Her was charged in accordance with two articles of the Criminal Code of the Belarusian Law: Article 368, part 1, “insulting of president”, and Article 367, part 1 “libel against president”, and faces two to four years in prison. He has been in custody for more than two months prior to the trial.
Yesterday in the evening about 9.000 people went to the central squares of their towns all over Belarus to a “silent protest” against the Belarusian government. During the protests in Minsk a Swedish diplomat was subject to violence and Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt has issued an official protest.
Not wanting to provoke the Police the many protesters gathered and walked in silence in the city centres, only clapping their hands when cars honked their horns in support of the peaceful protesters. The Police and Special forces tried to block the city centre in Minsk, limiting traffic and detaining people on their way to join the protest. (more…)
The ministers of foreign affairs of the European Union met in Luxemburg discuss further sanctions against the regime of Belarusian president Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
The foreign ministers strongly condemned the politically motivated detentions, trials and sentencing of representatives of the democratic society, the independent media and the political opposition, including several presidential candidates. The Council of the European Union also imposed travel restrictions and assets freeze on several key persons. In addition, the Council decided to impose an embargo on Belarus on arms and materials aimed for internal repression. Finally, it decided to freeze assets of three companies linked to the regime. (more…)
The Belarus economy is tumbling down. Though, President Lukashenka is denying the crises: Since January 2011, in order to deal with the financial meltdown the government has devaluated the national currency by 56% against the US dollar. As a result of this the prices in the stores are rising, and the Belarusians are suffering.
“Crisis in Belarus?! You know, a crisis is when enterprises are closed down because there is no demand for their goods, when it is impossible to sell products and people are forced into the streets,” said Aliaksandr Lukashenka during a recent press-conference at the National Library in Minsk denying any economic problems in the country.
Belarus has been struggling for some months to pull out of the foreign currency crisis, which is mostly fuelled by President Lukashenka’s populist economic policies. The result is a massive devaluation of the Belarus roubel against the dollar. The country has lost more than a quarter of its foreign currency reserves compared to before the devaluation in May. On June 1, reserves stood at $3.6 billion, down from $5.0 billion on January 1. (more…)
Mikola Stakevich and Dzmitry Us, both oppositional candidates in the presidential elections 2010, have been found guilty of „mass riots“ after the elections on December 19, 2010. Mikola Statkevic, leader of the Social Democratic Party, was been sentenced to six years of imprisonment in a reinforced prison. Dzmitry Us, independent oppositional candidate in the presidential elections 2010, has been sentenced to 5,5 year imprisonment. A former police officer was also sentenced to 5,5 years.
Today the City Court in Minsk found seven oppositional activists guilty of „mass riots“. Mikola Statkevic, leader of the Social Democratic Party, was been sentenced to six years of imprisonment in a reinforced prison. Dzmitry Us, independent oppositional candidate in the prsidential elections 2010, was been sentenced to 5,5 year imprisonment. Alaksandr Klaskouski, former Police officer who was arrested in the evening of December 19, after he tried to protect people from getting harshly beaten, was sentenced to five years imprisonment in a reinforced prison. (more…)
The sanctions against Lukashenka’s regime in Belarus have been widened. Today almost 190 individuals are barred from entering the EU.
The Council of the European Union has imposed wider sanctions against the Belarusian officials adding 13 new names to the black list, most of them working in the country’s judicial institutions, others in universities and schools. The Council stated that the restrictive measures imposed on the Belarus was adopted “… following the recent sentences on the former presidential candidate Sannikaw and on a number of members of the political opposition and civil society”. (more…)
Today Uladzimir Niakliayeu and Vital Rymasheuski, both oppositional candidates in the presidential election December 19, 2010, were sentenced two years conditional imprisonment.
Today the Court of Frunzenski District of the Minsk City announced the sentences for two former oppositional candidates in the presidential elections on December 19, 2010 – Uladzimir Niakliayeu and Vital Rymasheuski, in additing to a few other oppositional activists. In regards to Uladzimir Niakliayeu and Vital Rymasheuski the ruling was two years conditional sentences. Also a number of activists from Uladzimir Niakliayeu’s election campaign were sentenced to two years conditional punishment, that is Siarhei Vazniak, Aliaksandr Fiaduta and Andrei Dzmitryjeu. Nasta Palazhanka, well known opositional activist from the youth organisation of Young Front and an agent in the election campaign of Vital Rymasheuski was sentenced to one year of conditional sentence
The verdicts for the two former oppositional candidates, Dzmitry Uss and Mikola Statkevich, that were supposed to have been announced today were postponed due to the fact that the judge was ill.
The two largest independent newspapers in Belarus, Narodnaya Vola and Nasha Niva, might be closed down.
The Ministry of Information of the republic of Belarus has sent the request to the Superior Economic Court of Belarus to stop publication of the two largest independent newspapers in Belarus, Narodnaya Vola and Nasha Niva.
The decision was made by the Ministry of Information in accordance with the sub-paragraph 2.2 of article 51 §2 of Belarusian Law on mass media, stating that two or more officially written warnings has been issued by the authorities within a year.
Today Zmitser Bandarenka, oppositional activists and co-ordinator of the democratic movement European Belarus and election agent for former oppositional candidate in the presidential elections 2010, Amdrey Sannikau, was sentenced to two years of imprisonment.
Today the Pershamayski Court of Minsk announced verdict for Zmitser Bandarenka, oppositional activists and co-ordinator of the democratic movement <i>European Belarus</i> and election agent for former oppositional candidate in the presidential elections 2010, Amdrey Sannikau. The activist was accused of organizing and preparing or participation in actions that flagrantly violate public order, in accordance with the article 342 §1. Zmitser Bandarenka was sentenced to two years of imprisonment. Representatives of OSCE and EU diplomats attended the trial.
The Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt warns President Lukashenka not to exploit the bomb attack on April 11, in the subway in the Belarusian capital, for attacks on the political opposition.
“These kinds of attack should be handled according to the rule of law. To have a climate of intimidation and fear is not a way to run your country, not even to handle a terrorist incident. He should be aware that we will be watching. If he uses this as excuse to further intensify repression, this will certainly be noticed,” Bildt said to EU Observer April 14, 2011. (more…)
Yesterday evening several people were reportedly injured or killed by an explosion in the metro, in the city centre of Minsk, the capital of Belarus. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, expressed his condolences to the Belarusian people.
Today the two most popular oppositional web sites were blocked. The Belarusian State Telecommunication Inspection put these websites onto a black list, i.e. web pages with restricted access.
Already on March 23, 2011, the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Belarus decided that the two most popular oppositional sites should be blocked: Charter97 and Belarusianpartizan.org. To block the two largest but unwanted sites, the Prosecutor’s Office refer to “the Law on Mass Events in the Republic of Belarus”. (more…)
Anatol Liabedzka, leader of the United Civil Party of Belarus – cooperation partner to the Hjalmarson Foundation – was released from KGB jail in the evening of April 6, on recognizance not to leave.
During the election campaign, Anatol Liabedzka was the agent of the UCP’s candidate in presidential elections Yaraslau Ramanchuk. He is one of the arrested and accused in the criminal case of “mass riots” after the peaceful presidential elections on December 19, 2010.
Anatol Liabedzka was arrested in the night between December 19-20. He was picked up from his own flat and brought by KGB officers to the KGB jail. Since that time he has been in custody and for several months he was not allow to meet his lawyer – not until March 23.
The United Civil Party is centre-right and the second largest political party in Belarus. It was founded in 1995.
The Maskouski District Court of the City of Minsk has found Zmitser Dashkevich, leader of the organisation Malady Front (Young Front) and Eduard Lobau, chairman of the local branch of Malady Front (Young Front) in Minsk guilty of committing malicious hooliganism. Zmitser Dashkevich was sentenced to two years of imprisonment and Eduard Lobau to four years of imprisonment in a high security facility.
According to the prosecutor, Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobau went out on December 18, 2010 (one day before the presidential elections) and started harshly beating two strangers in the street. For this crime the prosecutor asked the Court to sentence Dashkevich to three years of imprisonment and Lobau to five years of imprisonment in a high security facility. At the end of the trial the Court announced the verdict: Zmitser Dashkevich was sentenced to two years of imprisonment and Eduard Lobau to four years of imprisonment in a high security facility.
Both Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobau were arrested in the evening of December 18, in Minsk and since that time they have been kept in custody waiting for the trial.
Last Thursday a Belarusian court handed down sentences for three of the individuals that attended the protests in Minsk after the presidential elections on December 19, 2010. Alyaksandar Atroshankau, Dzmitry Novik and Alyaksandar Malchanau were sentenced to three to four years in prison.
Alyaksandar Atroshankau, used to work for the news agency Charta97 and was the press secretary to Andrey Sannikau, presidential candidate. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment to be served in an institution of high security. Two others fopm the opposition: Dzmitry Novik and Alyaksandar Malchanau were convicted of the same “crime” to three or three and a half years of hard labor.
Alaksiej (Ales) Michalevic was arrested during demontrations in Minsk on December 19, 2010. He was released on February 19. After a period of silence, he held a press conference on Monday February 28, stating that different kinds of torture and unlawful treatments had been used against him by the KGB. This includes that he had been interrogated without his lawyer being present, streched and hung up in handcuffs and had to stand outside in the cold.
Michalevic was released from the KGB prison on condition that he would cooperate with the KGB. A collaboration which he dropped when holding the press conference on Monday in Minsk. In a written statement Michalevic explained: “Despite the fact that I, Ales Mikhalevich, a presidential candidate in the 2010 presidential elections, am bound by written cognizance not to disclose the materials of investigation, I consider it my duty to tell what is being done to the detained and the imprisoned in the KGB detention centre.” He tells in detail about different kinds of torture and says that he understands that the same kind of torment has been used against other political prisoners in the KGB prison.
During the press conference Alaksiej Michalevic reported how masked guards on January 10, “dragged me out of the cell, handcuffed me and lifted my arms up by handcuffs so as to lower me face down to the concrete floor. They dragged me down a spiral staircase to the basement. After twisting my arms behind my back as far upwards as they would go (until my joints started cracking) they told me I needed to do everything requested of me. They kept my arms in this position for a long time and pushed them higher and higher until I said I would comply with all requests.”
Read what the human rights organization Charta97 is publishing about the press conference
The Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation organized a seminar for Belarusian Youth. The seminar was the second of two in a series targeting young trainers. At the seminar, the participants practiced using structure in their training sessions and to be in charge of different sorts of exercises.
Since the first seminar, arranged last summer, the young politicians have managed trainings in their respective organizations and a section of the seminar was spent discussing experience gained from these sessions.
In connection with this second seminar, a new group attended their first seminar.
Vasil Parfiankou, a member of the campaign team of former presidential candidate Uladzimir Niakliajeu (Tell the Truth), was on January 17, sentenced to four years of imprisonment. He was accused of committing a crime under Par. 2 Art. 293 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, mass riot. In addition he was fined almost $5,000 for damaging state property, I.e. broken glass of a Governments building in the Independence Square, during the protests following the presidential election December 19, 2010.
Vasil Parfenkov partially admitted his guilt. When asked by the Court why he took part in the demonstration, Vasily Parfenkov answered: “To express my disagreement with the official voting results”. (more…)
The Estonian government has decided to waive the fee for Belarusian citizens applying for visas to Estonia. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated in a press release that this will facilitate travel to European Union nations “which will help Belarus strengthen its civil society and get experiences from the European Union.” Other states that previously made similar decisions – abolishing the visa fee for Belarusian citizens – are Poland and Latvia. (more…)
Christian Holm, MP for the Moderate Party, Chairman of the Parliamentary Belarus Network and a member of the JHS board is traveling with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt to Warsaw to attend the international donors’ conference, “Solidarity with Belarus”.
“Sweden is prepared to increase support to the Belarusian civil society,” reads the title of a press release that the State Department published prior to Carl Bildt’s visit to Poland on February 2, 2011. In addition to Christian Holm, Robert Hårdh, Civil Rights Defenders, is part of the Swedish delegation.
“I expect that the meeting will recognize enhanced measures to support the civil society in Belarus” says Mr. Bildt. “Including the support to various volunteer organizations, media, aa well as the Swedish political foundations working for the democratization process in Belarus.”
