BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

28/04/2006

HK are concerned about arrests in Belarus

Viena, 10:30

The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF), the Belarusian Helsinki Comittee (BHC), the Swedish Helsinki Committee (SHC) and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) are concerned about arrests of participants in the peaceful rally "Chernobyl Way" despite the fact that the latter was sanctioned by Minsk city authorities.

Mr. Aliaksandr Milinkevich, leader of the Democratic Movement and former presidential candidate, addressed yesterday's meeting. He was sentenced today to a 15-day administrative arrest. He termed the sentence as being "political paranoia". A number of other oppositional activists, including Aliaksandr Bukhvostau, leader of the Labour Party, and Vintsuk Viachorka, leader of the Belarus People Front, were also sentenced today to administrative arrests.

On the eve of the "Chernobyl Way" demonstration, Mr. Anatol Liabedzka, leader of the United Civic Party, was detained by the Committee for State Security (KGB) and interrogated in connection with alleged terrorism activities. He was released after 10 hours. A number of political activists throughout the country were detained or barred from coming to Minsk for the demonstration.

The IHF, BHC, SHC and NHC are also gravely concerned about the fate of youth activist Artur Finkevich, who has been detained for almost 3 months in the investigative isolator of the city of Minsk. Artur Finkevitch was arrested on 30 January by the police for writing "We want new!" on a wall in the capital Minsk. He was charged with violating two articles of the Criminal Code of Belarus: article 339 (2), on "malignant hooliganism", and article 218 (3), relating to the "purposeful destruction or defilement of property". If found guilty of these crimes, Artur Finkevich can be sentenced to 7-12 years of prison; the charges brought do not carry sentences that would possibly provide for suspended sentence.

Our organizations were informed that the materials of the case have now been passed to judge Viktoryja Zaitsava of the Pershamaiski district court of Minsk. The trial will take place within three weeks.

We consider the charges against Artur Finkevich to be politically-motivated. They are clearly part of a wave of crack-down on members of civil society and opposition figures, aiming at silencing dissenting views and reducing political activity in the country.

Considering the political nature of the cases against political activists and taking into account the seriousness of the accusations against Artur Finkevich as well as the severe punishment that he faces if found guilty, the IHF, the BHC, the SHC and the NHC respectfully asks the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and OSCE member states to voice their concern about the continued repression of political figures in Belarus, and ask for the withdrawal of the charges against the activists and for their immediate release.

Source:

http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/agencija/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=1&NrArticle=20698&NrIssue=452&NrSection=600

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