09. August 2011 – Belarus Weekly Chronicle: 25 July till 8 August 2011
The information on two death sentences reportedly executed in Belarus last week has been confirmed by the mother of one of the executed persons Andrei Burdyka. She was told of her son’s execution on 25 July. Another convicted person, Aleh Hryshkautsou, must have been executed as well. The exact date of the execution is unknown and probably lies between July 11 and 19. For the second time within 18 months Belarus applies the death penalty and thus puts its citizens in defiance of the UN Human Rights Committee’s demand for interim measures. Several countries expressed their concern about the executions, among them Great Britain, whose Minister for Europe, David Lidington, urged Belarus to establish a formal moratorium on executions as a first step towards a better integration into the international community. (26.07.2011)
The Embassy of Poland, which is holding the current EU presidency, issued a statement on Zmitser Bandarenka’s health. The statement calls on Belarus' authorities to ensure proper treatment, counsel, and rehabilitation of Zmitser Bandarenka, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Belarus. Bandarenka, the coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign and agent of 2010 presidential president Andrei Sannikov, was sentenced in April to two years in prison for “organizing the actions that breach public order and taking active part in these actions”. He suffers from a chronic disease, which worsened after detention in December 2010. Recently he has been denied the consulation of a specialist as well as a necessary operation. (26.07.2011)
Hanna Bahtsina and Darya Lipkina , the lawyers of the political prisoners Iryna Halip and Mikita Lihavid have not passed the certification. The Ministry of Justice has organized an extra certification for lawyers this summer, which has not been passed by several lawyers who took part in the “Dec.19” hearings. Earlier this year, four other lawyers involved in “the case of December 19” were already refused their certification. (26.07.2011)
Maryana Syameshka, Zmitser Dashkevich's lawyer, and Nasta Palazhanka, the fiancee of the political prisoner, were not permitted to visit him during their last visit in prison. Nasta Palazhanka thinks the prison authorities do not allow the lawyer to see Dashkevich in order she could not notice traces of beating on his body. On 2nd August about 30 activists arranged an action of solidarity for Dashkevich. 14 of them were detained afterwards and quickly put to a non-public trial. (28.07.-03.08.20112011)
The private apartment of the famous blogger Yauhen Lipkovich has been searched by Minsk police. The search was said to be carried out as part of a criminal case for alleged disrespect for the state symbols initiated by Deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus. Lipkovich’s blog features “images of the state flag of abusive and blasphemous character”, says the search warrant. (28.07.2011)
Ales Bialiatski, Chair of the Human Rights Center Viasna and vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has been detained within the framework of a criminal case instigated under Article 243, part 2 of the Criminal Code, for the concealment of profits on an especially large scale. Up to 7 years of imprisonment with the confiscation of property are envisaged in this case. His home as well as his summer residence were searched before the detention. Meanwhile many interest groups and officials have expressed their solidarity with Bialiatski, among them the embassy of the US, the ambassador of the UK, the EU high representative for Foreign Affairs, the OSCE and numerous human rights organisations. More information on Libereco’s means of support can be found on http://www.lphr.org/.
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