On 27 January the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus was to consider the new bill on travel regulations for Belarusian citizens.
The new bill is to introduce democratic procedures of crossing the border, which would comply with the universally recognized standards of the international law.
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Aleh Hulak
Anatol Labiedzka
Uladzimer Siakierka
The Belarusian authorities tried to deceive the OSCE by saying activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Alyaksandr Barazenka was released without being sentenced after the trial in the case of 14.
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Liavon Barshcheuski
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In a recruiting agency a member of the Council of the “Moladz BNF” organisation Volha Ustsinovich was asked to cross out information about her good command of Belarusian from her CV.
“I have faced a situation which is rather typical concerning the recent events. The crisis, staff reduction, and I have become unemployed. It’s no picnic. But at least I was sure that it would be easy to find a new job soon. It seems that I have everything needed for it: a diploma of one of the most prestigious universities of the county, command of foreign languages, different courses and some experience. But one thing hasn’t been taken into account by me. I wrote in my résumé: “I have good command of Belarusian”.
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Vladimir Vysotski
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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Stanislav Markelov
A group of international human rights organisations condemned today the murder of the HR defender and lawyer Stanislav Markelov and the journalist Anastasia Baburova. In the statement to Russian authorities they called for a thorough investigation of the murder and protection of human rights defenders.
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Human Rights House Foundation
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According to the BelaPAN news agency, the Panel of the Political Council of the United Pro-Democratic Forces of Belarus calls upon the Belarusian authorities to allow the youth activists facing conscription to undergo an independent and impartial medical examination. Continue reading »
The Belarusian Helsinki Committee has addressed the General Prosecutor’s office with a statement expressing its deep concern regarding the repeated acts of vandalism at a number of memorial sites, including the Kurapaty memorial forest and Hebrew cemeteries of Vitsebsk, Barysau, Homel and Minsk. As yet, all of the crimes remain unpunished.
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According to www.belaruspartisan.org, the former General Prosecutor of Belarus Aleh Bazhelka may soon retake office or be offered the post of head of the Supreme Court. President Lukashenka has had two meetings with Bazhelka lately and is said to be willing to see him among his teammates again.
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On 15 December Kalinkavichy district court executor in a special letter demanded that United Civic Party activist Dzianis Rabianok pay a BYR 1,500,000 fine awarded to him by Elsk district court for ‘violations of electoral legislation’ in absentia.
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Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, the Director of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), arrives to Minsk on January 22 to discuss recommendations for improvements to Belarus’ electoral framework. Continue reading »
Stanislav Markelov, famous Russian lawyer, was assassinated in the center of Moscow on 19 January.
Markelov was member of the Interrepublican Bar and founder of the Institute of the Supremacy of Law. He has provided legal assistance in a number of cases after the violent break-ups of demonstrations in Minsk and worked as an observer in the 2001 presidential election. The lawyer participated in a number of notorious trials of abuses by Russia’s army in Chechnya, crimes against journalists and anti-Fascist activists. Continue reading »
According to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, European Parliament has adopted a provisional resolution on the political situation in Belarus.
The resolution mentions a number of positive signs in Belarus’ inner policy: Continue reading »
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 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Continue reading »
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has adopted new procedures for submitting claims by individuals. Continue reading »
On 25 December unknown persons damaged protective rollets and defiled them with swastikas in a Navapolatsk-based human rights organization. Human rights activist Zmitser Salauyou addressed Navapolatsk town prosecutor’s office with a demand to investigate the attack, naming it an outrage against public order and an attempt to stir up national hatred by an unknown Navapolatsk neo-Nazi organization.
We have received a curious document – letters by Mr.Viniarski to the Constitutional Court and the Parliament of Belarus, dealing with the issue that first emerged during the trial when the accused was not allowed to use legal assistance from a human rights activist, which is an outrage against the constitutional right to defend. Continue reading »
A human rights activist Mikalai Kalinin has addressed the Belarusian Minister of Communications with a request to stop unsealing his personal mail.
Kalinin says he did not receive the letter sent by one of his friends. The letter was posted on 7 December 2008, which was confirmed via e-mail. Continue reading »
