belarus executive summary - US Department of State

BELARUS 30
On June 22, more than 6,000 persons took part in silent protests across the country,
leading to at least 460 detentions, including independent journalists. Thirty-three
participants reportedly were fined up to 1.05 million rubles ($127) on the charges
of “disorderly conduct.”
At a large demonstration on July 3, the number of detained protesters reached
nearly 400, including 20 independent journalists. Minsk police warned ahead of
protests that individuals would be “allowed to clap freely” only during the July 3
official Independence Day parade, thus apparently criminalizing a major tactic of
the “silent protests.” The majority of the detained on July 3 were sentenced to up
to 15 days in jail; others received fines up to 1.05 million rubles ($127). On July 6,
more than 2,500 persons gathered for silent protests in 35 localities across the
country. Police detained 400 persons, including 28 independent journalists.
Administrative courts convicted 193 activists of “disorderly conduct,” and the
majority served 15 days in jail. The rest were fined up to 1.05 million rubles
($127).
After organizers of “silent” protests announced that the next rally would take place
on September 21, police conducted a number of preventive arrests and
“preventative talks” with activists throughout the country. A number of
universities scheduled their classes for late evenings to prevent students from
participating in demonstrations. No detentions were reported on September 21.
In the wake of the December 2010 postelection demonstration, security officers
continued to harass and jail activists who protested police actions on that night.
For example, on January 13, a court in Minsk fined Polish minority activist and
journalist Andrzej Paczobut 1.75 million rubles ($211) for participating in
unsanctioned postelection demonstrations. Police searched his residence in
Hrodna and transported him for proceedings in Minsk a day earlier. The judge
dismissed Paczobut’s statements that he was covering the demonstration as part of
his professional duties. On January 31, European Belarus campaign members
Katsyaryna Lyudvik, Paulina Kuryanovich, and Maksim Vinyarski received 10
days in jail each for participating in a peaceful demonstration in protest of police
repression in front of the KGB building on January 30. Four other demonstrators,
including the common-law spouse of political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich, were
fined 1.05 million rubles ($127) each.
Police also used preemptive arrest and detention to prevent democratic activists’
participation in protests. For example, authorities took various measures to deter
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011
United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor