The court of Pershamajski district of Minsk has acquitted the former chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus, the leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada Stanislau Shushkevich. The politician was charged with committing an administrative violation of the article 167 of the Administrative Code. He was charged with active participation in a solidarity action with political prisoners on May 1.
Within the last two weeks the KGB and Interior Affairs Ministry representatives have seized 94 copies of the book “National idea. Phenomenon of Belarus” by Paval Sevyarynets in the searches in headquarters and private apartments of opposition activists in Minsk, Navapolatsk and Zhlobin. To the demand to give back the books published in compliance with the law, KGB and Interior Ministry representatives answered that it is impossible as an “expert examination” of the book is made.
Five young people who have come to the police department of Maskouski district of Minsk to find out what have happened to their friends detained near the pre-trial detention center in Akrestsin Street, where they were waiting for Alyaksandr Milinkevich on his release, have been detained as well. As the UCP press-service informs, Iryna Zavadskaya, Alyaksei Kazulin, Anastasiya Chakhouskaya, Alyaksandra Sajfulina and Syarhei Saroka have been detained.
At a press conference in Minsk the leader of the democratic forces of Belarus Alyaksandr Milinkevich has commented the article in Russian newspaper “Kommersant”, which states that Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered to stop subsidising Belarusian economy with an aim to make Lukashenka to agree with creation of a single state on Moscow’s terms.
On May 11 Mikhalai Dzehtsiarou (an official from Slonim responsible for environment protection) refused to provide Volha Shynkevich (a journalist from "Hazeta Slonimskaja") with information. The reporter had intended to ask him some questions about the plans of his department for this year.
The musical program Dozen of Hits was broadcasted by Radio-Minsk at 11 p.m. on Fridays. It was prepared according to the results of the voting at a web-site and was one of the most popular FM-programs.
At the sitting of the Estonian government it was decided not to issue entry and transit visas to Aliaksandr Lukashenka and a number of other state officials of Belarus. The press-service of the governmental chancellery explained that this decision is based on the recommendation of the European Union to introduce visa restrictions and other sanctions against the official Minsk due to «mass violations of human rights and electoral standards» on the eve and during the presidential election that was held in Belarus on 19 March. The press-service also stated that Estonia was going to apply financial sanctions in order to make president Lukashenka and other Belarusian officials release and rehabilitate all political prisoners, change the electoral legislation and abstain from such violations in future.
Recently the vice-minister of education of the Ukraine Mykhaylo Stepko passed to the all-Ukrainian youth organization Student Brotherhood the document with the juridical grounding for the possibility of free education of the Belarusian students who are repressed by Lukashenka’s regime. It’s worth mentioning that Student Brotherhood started to demand from the ministry to give such possibility to the Belarusian students in May 2005. On 24 March 2006, after the dispersal of the tent camp of the opposition in Kastrychnitskaia Square in Minsk, the organization even picketed the Ministry of Education for it.
Russian daily Kommersant reported on Friday, May 12, that President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree on May 9, ordering a stop to economic support to the neighboring country of Belarus. Putin also demanded that Russian authorities take measures to cut off re-export and smuggling of Russian goods through Belarussian territory.
In Homel Aksana Serhienka, a youth activist arrested for dissemination of leaflets, has announced a hunger strike. Policemen detained Aksana on May 1 for handing out leaflets about how contract system violates rights of workers. It was stated in the report about the girl’s hooliganism; that she disobeyed demands of policemen, and that leaflets didn’t have imprint.
The leader of Labour Party Alyaksandr Bukhvostau had to seek medical advice right after release from detention center in Akrestsin Street, where he served a 15-days arrest for organizing an opposition rally the Path of Chernobyl. The politician has hearth problems, and now he is admitted to the emergency hospital.
Several hundreds of people have come to the special detention center in Akrestsin Street, to meet the leader of the democratic forces Alyaksandt Milinkevich on his release from prison.
Policemen of the special task detachment (former SWAT) have arrested 10 youth activists, who had come to prison together with many other people to meet the leader of the democratic forces Alyaksandr Milinkevich.
Former chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus, the chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada Stanislau Shushkevich is to stand trial in the court of Pershamajski district of Minsk. The politician is charged with organizing a rally of solidarity with political prisoners held on May 1 in Minsk.
At the moment about 150 people have gathered by the special detention center in Akrestsin Street. The leader of the democratic forces Alyaksandr Milinkevich is to arrive to the prison soon. He plans to meet with his supporters.
More than 50 people have come to the special detention center in Akrestsin Street. Young activists, members of political parties, common citizens have gathered to meet leaders of the Belarusian opposition Alyaksandr Milinkevich, Alyaksandr Bukhvostau and Zmitser Dashkevich. They were to be released from prison at 11.50 a.m. But people were not allowed to stand by the detention center. About two dozens of policemen from the special task detachment (former SWAT) are squeezing them away from the building of the detention center, saying that it is prohibited to stay near this secure facility.
KGB officers have carried out a search in the apartment and at the working place of a deputy chairman of Leu Sapeha enlightening foundation, Uladzimir Khilmanovich. His computer, a stamp of the foundation, private and work documents, and all other data carriers have been seized.
Dear Colleagues. Remember, please, you are expected to refer to the Charter`97 Press Center when using the site materials. News export , javascript-informer
, javascript-informer
