Homel civil and political figures on the criminal prosecution of Leanid Svetsik

Leanid Sudalenka, Chair of the Legal Initiative’s Homel office, human rights activist, Homel
- The Vitsebsk human rights activist Leanid Svetsik was convicted of sending letters with threats on behalf of the unregistered ultra-right organization RNE (Russian National Unity). The offence is prosecuted under Article 130-1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (fomenting racial, national or religious hatred). As far as I know, Svetsik’s work was to render legal assistance to the receivers of the letters and that was his only fault. Now he will have to pay a huge fine of 11,000 USD, which roughly equals to a 3-year’s average salary in Belarus. It looks like the State has made up its mind to earn money on the human rights activist and his big family. I am sure that Leanid Svetsik will find a decent way out of the complicated situation, for he has not admitted the verdict yet. He is going to appeal it, therefore he considers himself innocent! Continue reading »

Tags: criminal prosecution, Homel, human rights activists, Legal Initiative, Svetsik, United Civil Party of Belarus, Vitsebsk

Harassment of human rights activists in Belarus…

Vitebsk human rights activist Leanid Svetsik has been punished by the system with the greatest fine of 34 million rubles on charges, which were immediately used by the official state media for fomenting resentment and hatred, further discrimination of the Belarusian society.

In this case, the target of a company of discredit appeared to be an active in its relations with the UNCHR Vitebsk human rights activist, an activist of the Belarusian civil society, whose very honorable mission of a human rights activist was damaged.  Continue reading »

Tags: criminal prosecution, elections, fines, human rights activists, Svetsik, trials, Vitsebsk

Thus, the human rights activists helped people, but who will help the activist?
Vitsebsk human rights activist Leanid Svetsik has received a reply to his claim lodged with the Constitutional Court of Belarus, saying that having considered the events dating back to 17 July 2009, mentioned in the claim, the Court passed judgment #P-360-2009 ‘On Securing Equal Rights of Citizens in the Labour Sector.’
In its verdict, already registered in the National Register of Legal Acts of the Republic of Belarus, the Constitutional Court accepted the arguments by the human rights activist pertaining to the illegality of the existing discriminative system of employment restrictions, based on age and place of residence Continue reading »

Tags: Constitutional Court, human rights activist, labour legislation, Svetsik

On 27 August 2008 the Electoral Committee of Vitsebsk Electoral District #21 refused to register Aliaksandr Mikulin running for the Parliament. Mr.Mikulin disagreed on the decision, guided by the following reasons:
- Under Article 62-1 of the Belarusian Electoral Code, he applied for registration as a candidate for deputy of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, representing the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) and its local office on the territory of the constituency.
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Tags: Aliaksandr Mikulin, elections, strategic lawsuits

On 30 October 2007, Siarhei Kavalenka took part in a civil funeral procession outside Vitsebsk. The action was devoted to the victims of Stalin’s repressions in the 1930s-1950s and attended by over 30 members of their families.
The memorial action was to take place at the execution and burial spots of the repressed people, in the villages of Paliai, Varony and Koptsi, Vitsebsk district. The activists were going to install a cross and lay flowers on the place of mass executions. However, they were approached by representatives of the police, with Deputy Chair of Vitsebsk District Police Department Major Lilenka at its head, who named the funeral procession an unauthorized picket and suggested stopping it. Continue reading »

Tags: complaint, memorial action, repressions, Stalin, UN Human Rights Committee

On 30 October 2007, Siarhei Beliazeka took part in a civil funeral procession outside Vitsebsk. The action was devoted to the victims of Stalin’s repressions in the 1930s-1950s and attended by over 30 members of their families.
The memorial action was to take place at the execution and burial spots of the repressed people, in the villages of Paliai, Varony and Koptsi, Vitsebsk district. The activists were going to install a cross and lay flowers on the place of mass executions. However, they were approached by representatives of the police, with Deputy Chair of Vitsebsk District Police Department Major Lilenka at its head, who named the funeral procession an unauthorized picket and suggested stopping it.
Despite the threats, Siarhei Beliazeka, together with his fellow activists, went on with the funeral rites. When the action was over and its participants came back to the bus, Major Lilenka said they all were detained as participants of an unauthorized picket. The activists protested against the arrest, but had to obey the order. Continue reading »

Tags: complaint, memorial action, repressions, Stalin, UN Human Rights Committee

Barys Khamaida was detained on 7 July 2007 (birthday of the People’s Poet of Belarus Yanka Kupala) in downtown Vitsebsk as he was holding a poster with the poet’s verse written on it. He was taken to Vitsebsk Chyhunachny Police Department and charged with violating Article 23.34 of the Civil Code (violating procedures of holding mass actions and pickets). On the same day, Mr.Khamaida’s case was considered by Judge Bardziukova of Vitsebsk Chyhunachny Court. As a result of the trial, the activist was fined BYR 310,000. Continue reading »

Tags: arrest, complaint, Khamaida, UN Human Rights Committee, Vitsebsk

Alena Zaleskaya was detained by the police and taken to Vitsebsk Kastrychnitski police department, where she was charged with violating Article 167-1 of the Belarusian Civil Code (‘violating the procedures of organizing and holding mass actions’). The case was considered by Judge Valiantsina Mikhasiova of Vitsebsk Kastrychnitski Court, who fined the woman BYR 620,000. Continue reading »

Tags: complaints, UN Human Rights Committee

Vitsebsk authorities have banned a picket in commemoration of an iconic Soviet actor and singer-songwriter Vladimir Vysotski, for which a representative of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee of Vitsebsk region Pavel Lyavinau applied.

Pavel Lyavinau planned to stage the picket on January 25, on Vladimir Vysotski’s birthday. He intended to stand near the regional library and hand out leaflets with quotes from the songs of the famous Russian author, as he finds his poetry with social content being of interest in the context of today’s Belarus, Radio Svaboda informs.
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Tags: action, Visotski

On 19 December Vitsebsk Kastrychnitski borough court considered the claim lodged by human rights activist Pavel Levinau against the decision to ban a number of public events dedicated to the 60^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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Tags: claim, Trial, UN Human Rights Committee, Vitsebsk