Archive of Charter'97 (1998-2002)

ALYAKSANDR KAZULIN, POLITICAL PRISONER

A former candidate for presidency in the Republic of Belarus Alyaksandr Kazulin was hurled into prison for staging protest rallies against rigging of presidential elections on Freedom day March 25, 2006. July 12 Minsk city court sentenced Alyaksandr Kazulin to 5.5 years of imprisonment. In prison Alyaksandr Kazulin announced a hunger strike, demanding to consider the Belarusian problem in the UN Security Council. The political prisoner was on hunger strike for 53 days and reduced by more than 40 kilograms. His health has been irreparably damaged. The courageous politician achieved his aim. A US representative brought up the problem of Belarus in the UN Security Council.

ANDREI KLIMAU, POLITICAL PRISONER

An oppositional leader, a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the 13th convocation Andrei Klimau was arrested on April 3, 2007 for publishing an article on current affairs. A criminal action was brought up against the politician for violation of Article 361 Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Belarus "appeals via the mass media to overthrow or forcibly change the constitutional regime". Andrei Klimau is imprisoned in the remand prison No.1 in Minsk. In the remand prison the politician had a heart attack.

Earlier Klimau, an active opponent of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, spent 4 years in prison on charges related to economic crimes, and sentenced to 15 months of corrective labour for staging street protest rallies on Freedom Day in 2005. Amnesty International recognized Andrei Klimau prisoner of conscience.

ZMITSER DASHKEVICH, POLITICAL PRISONER

November 1, 2006 the leader of the Young Front was sentenced to a year and a half of imprisonment in a minimum-security colony. The young leader was charged with violation of a "political" article of the Criminal Code, Article 193 ("Activities on behalf of an unregistered organization"). Zmitser Dashkevich is serving a sentence in Shklou colony with a reinforced regime. He works in a forest plot sawing wood. His health deteriorated because of extreme conditions of work.

ARTUR FINKEVICH, POLITICAL PRISONER

May 10, 2006 a young activist Artur Finkevich was sentenced to two years of restriction of freedom in a labor colony for making a political graffiti "We want a new one!' and "Fed up with him!" during the presidential campaign. He is serving the sentence in Maholyou special settlement and works as a street sweeper in a kindergarten. A serious pressure is being exerted on him there. The political prisoner has already received three warnings of the administration for violation of the regime. After another warning he can be transferred to a colony.

MIKALAY AUTUKHOVICH AND YURY LYAVONAU, POLITICAL PRISONERS

July 7, 2006 the leader of the movement of entrepreneurs Mikalay Autukhovich was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months of prison allegedly for "tax evasion". Autukhovich considers the verdict to him to be politically motivated. Many times he announced hunger strikes as a protest against unjust persecution. One of them lasted for more than 70 days. The entrepreneur reduced by 40 kilograms of weight and ruined his health. He is kept in Minsk colony No.1. An entrepreneur Yury Lyavonau who worked together with Mikalay Autukhovich, was sentenced to 3 years 5 months of restriction of freedom. He is kept in the colony in Baranavichy.

MIKOLA STATKEVICH, POLITICAL PRISONER

May 31, 2005 a coordinator of the European Coalition, a chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic party (Narodnaya Hramada) Mikola Statkevich was sentenced to 3 years of a corrective labour facility for organizing mass protest rallies against rigging election and referendum results in October 2004. The referendum lifted limitations for a number of times Lukashenka could be elected president. Later Statkevich's term was reduced to 2 years. First he served the sentence in Baranavichy, and worked as a fitter of electric appliances. Later he repaired auto-tractors in the village of Blon, Pukhavichy district. He was released two months before the end of his term, in May 2007. Amnesty International recognized Mikola Statkevich prisoner of conscience.

PAVAL SEVYARYNETS, POLITICAL PRISONER

May 31, 2005 a young leader, a founder of the "Young Front" Paval Sevyarynets was sentenced to 3 years of corrective labour for organizing in October 2004 protest rallies against referendum results which allowed Lukashenka to be elected for an unlimited number of times. Later the term was reduced to 2 years. He served the sentence in the village of Malae Sitna, Polatsk district. He worked in a tree cutting. He was released two months before the end of his term, in May 2007. Amnesty International recognized Paval Sevyarynets prisoner of conscience.

KATSYARYNA SADOUSKAYA, POLITICAL PRISONER

A human rights activist Katsyaryna Sadouskaya is the head of the Belarusian branch of a Pskov-based regional public association "Veche". She was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment in a colony for insulting the president. The pensioner suffering from diabetes, who had undergone a cancer operation, she spent 10 month in a colony. She was granted an early release in May 2007.

DZYANIS DZYANISAU, POLITICAL PRISONER

A young activist Dzyanis Dzyanisau was one of the first who put up tents on October Square during protest rallies after election 2006. He was detained in December 2006. A criminal action was brought up against him for organizing peaceful actions in Vitsebsk, when young activists distributed leaflets and put up national white-red-white flags. He was charged for violation of Article 342 Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus ("Organizing and preparation of group actions grossly violating public order"). He spent 2 months in a remand prison No.2 in Vitsebsk. He was released on a bail of 15.5 million rubles collected during a public solidarity campaign. In May 2007 the criminal action against the activist was terminated.

CASE OF «PARTNERSTVA» INITIATIVE

Activists of the civil initiative on election observation "Partnerstva" Mikolay Astrejka, Tsimafei Dranchuk, Enira Branitskaya and Alyaksandr Shalajka were arrested on February 21, 2006 on the eve of the presidential elections. The activists were charged with violation of Article 193 of the Criminal Code of Belarus ("Activities on behalf of an unregistered organization"). They were convicted in July 2006. Enira Branitskaya and Alyaksandr Shalajka were sentenced to 6 months of restriction of freedom and released in August 2006. Mikalay Astrejka was sentenced to 2 years of minimum security colony. In the colony his kidney disease aggravated. In November 2006 he was transferred to corrective labour regime. Tsimafei Dranchuk was sentenced to 1 year of minimal security colony. He was released in December 2006.

MIKHAIL MARYNICH: 2 years in colony (2004-2006)

Another political prisoner appeared in Belarus. The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus, ex-minister of the Foreign Economical Affairs, MP of the 12th and 13th Supreme Soviet Mikhail Marynich was arrested in Minsk on April 26, 2004. The authorities hide their fear of a person who is actively involved in opposition activities and openly states his disagreement with Lukashenka regime, behind ridiculous and provocative accusations. The Charter'97 states its support and solidarity with Mikhail Marynich. We all should struggle for release of Mikhail Marynich, as we struggled for freedom of the poet Slavamir Adamovich, artist Ryhor Kijko, political activists Uladzimir Lysko, Alyaxandr Bondaraw, Alyaxandr Koval, Anatoliy Sarokin, journalists Pavel Sheremet, Dzmitry Zavadski, Jarasalw Awchynnikaw, Mikola Markevich, Paval Mazhejka, Viktar Ivashkevich, youth leaders Paval Sevyarynets, Alyaksei Shydlowski, Vadzim Labkovich, Vadzim Kabanchuk, MPs Valer Schukin, Andrei Klimaw, Uladzimir Kudzinaw, former Prime Minister Mikhail Chyhir, ex-Minister of Agriculture Vasil Lyavonaw, Hero of Socialistic Labour Vasil Staravojtaw, political leaders Yuri Khadyka, Vyachaslaw Siwchyk, Mikola Statkevich. Our solidarity has helped these courageous people to endure the ordeal of detention with honor. The authorities are trying to divide us, but it does not matter which parties, organizations? Political blocs we belong to, we are to stick together and fight for our people. Stand firm, Mikhail! For your and our freedom! >>

AGAIN 1937?

Shortly after his reelection as country’s president Alexander Lukashenko announced massive anti-corruption campaign. The authorities are using a tested maneuver, distracting the attention from the failed economic policy – today over 70% of Belarusian companies are operating at a loss; the private business is half dead under the heavy 40% taxation; inflation hit the record level of 65%, while the promised $100 wages had been paid not to all of the country’s workers, but rather to certain employees from certain structures. In total, in 2001 over 20 thousand individuals were brought to legal responsibility for economic crimes, including over 400 directors and responsible workers.

THEY DEFAMED LUKASHENKO

On June 24, 2002 the Leninsky district court of Grodno sentenced the editor-in-chief of the closed newspaper "Pagonya" Nikolai Markevich to 2,5 years of freedom restriction and the newspaper's journalist Pavel Mozheiko - to 2 years of the same punishment under article 367(2) of the Criminal Law.

EUROPEAN ARSENAL OF TERRORISM

Since 1996 Belarus has been ranked among the first ten world's arms suppliers. In 2000 the Belarusian regime sold $498 worth weapons and the country took sixth spot in the general rating of weaponry exporters. Trade in military equipment with the states, relating to terrorism, is being done in breach of the UN sanctions.

THREE YEARS OF JAIL – LIKELY VERDICT FOR WEARING LUKASHENKA’S MASK

On-line action in support of the ZUBR youth movement

Unprecedented for Belarus court proceedings are taking place these days in Shklov. Five guys may get three years of jail for wearing masks of the Europe’s last dictator.

Valery SCHUKIN: incarcerated reporter

Laureate of the National human rights award, 13th Supreme Soviet deputy Valery Schukin will serve three months in prison for an attempt to get to the press-conference of the Interior Minister of Belarus Vladimir Naumov.

Dmitry ZAVADSKY: ORT reporter's case

July 7, 2000 the cameraman of the Belarusian press-service of the Russian ORT channel Dmitry Zavadsky, headed for the "Minsk-2" airport to meet his colleague Pavel Sheremet. When Shemet's plane landed and the journalist got out of the airport he only came across his friend's empty car in the parking lot. Since then there's been no news about Zavadsky's possible whereabouts.

Viktor Gonchar: Political abduction

Supreme Soviet first Vice-Speaker Viktor Gonchar disappeared in Minsk on September 16, 1999.

Yuri Zakharenko: Never returned home...

Former Minister for the Interior general Yuri Zakharenko was abducted in his own neighborhood May 7, 1999 night.

Valery Schukin, Nikolai Statkevich: Freedom March echo

Supreme Soviet deputy Valery Schukin and leader of the Belarusian social-democrats Nikolai Statkevich were sentenced in June 2000 for the participation in the Freedom March - one of opposition's most massive actions over a long period of time.

Mikhail CHIGIR. Prisoner of conscience.

Amnesty International is concerned about the arrest of the opposition leader Mikhail Chigir, who is currently awaiting trial in prison. He appears to have been targeted by the authorities solely because of his political beliefs and peaceful opposition activities. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience.

Andrei KLIMOV. Proceeding against the PRISONER OF CONCIENCE.

Andrei Klimau, the deputy of the 13th Supreme Soviet disbanded by Lukashenka in 1996, was arrested on February 11, 1998 on charges related to ‘illegal business activities’ – ‘building without a permit’.

Vladimir KOUDINOV. Letters from jail.

In August 1997 Vladimir Koudinov was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment on charge of alleged bribing. The deputy himself did not admit his guilty. He consider all that happened to him as a provocation and taking revenge, because as deputy of the Supreme Soviet he was one of the initiators of impeachment of President Lukashenko in November 1996. He also took active part in the activities of the Supreme Soviet, disbanded by President Lukashenko after the illegitimate referendum.

Vladimir PLESCHENKO. Inquiry drags on.

Pleschenko was arrested and put in pre-trial detention on September 2,1998. He is charged with stealing a monument to Russian General Alexander Suvorov. Suvorov's plaster bust covered with a bronze leaf was stolen from its base near a military recruiting office. The removed monument was found a few days later in a neighboring yard. The local police think V. Pleschenko to have committed this crime since Mr. Pleschenko together with his colleagues Yury Morozov and Boris Khamayda have been regularly detained, fined and arrested for their holding pickets and protest actions.

Aleksei SHYDLOUSKY. 25 February 1999 - Set Free!

Aleksei was arrested on August 25,1997 together with a friend of his Vadim Labkovitch for committing acts of "hooliganism". These two boys and their friends wrote an anti-presidential graffiti on walls of the buildings in Stolbcy. The action took place late at night on August 1,1997. They also took off the national flag from the building of the town's executive committee.

1998-2002 © Charter'97.

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