Zubr activist Mikita Sasim is to give out his scholarship for the fine to which he has been sentenced by court in Polatsk. On April 12 Mikita was detained in Polatsk, and accused of acting on behalf of an unregistered organization. He was sentenced to a fine of 190 thousands rubles (about 88 dollars).

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“The authorities fear businessmen’s activism. Valery Levaneuski was arrested on an absurd charge of insulting honor and dignity of Alyaksandar Lukashenka after the action on May 1, when about three thousands of traders went out to the streets of Hrodna. Today traders went on strike in Hrodna again, as a sign of solidarity with the demands of the “Respublika” deputies and others on hunger strike in Minsk. The largest markets of the city, “Paudniovy” and “Central” do not work. I have visited Minsk the day before to express support to the protesters of the “Respublika” on behalf of businessmen. I think that announcing me a suspect in the case of insulting Lukashenka is connected to that fact,” told the deputy chairman of the All-Nation Strike Committee of Businessmen Alyaksandar Vasilleu commenting on charging him with public insult of president Lukasheka.

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Adoption of the Law on “On Countermeasures Against Extremism” was initiated by the KGB (Committee of State Security) of Belarus. Deputy chairman of the standing committee on National Security of the “chamber of representatives” of the “national assembly” of Belarus Uladzimir Marozau (Vladimir Morozov) explained that the law in general is necessary to prevent socially dangerous acts of mass extremism at the early stage of their development.

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A number of well-known politicians have expressed their support to the persons on hunger strike in Belarus. Marshal of the Polish Sejm Józef Oleksy expressed his solidarity with the protesters in Belarus. “I can say positively that the demands of the hunger strikers are just. That is why I support them,” told Józef Oleksy to Radio Svaboda.

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Vol.7, No. 24
June 9-16, 2004
Edited by Nate Young
International League for Human Rights

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Deputy chairman of the All-Nation Strike Committee of businessmen of Belarus Alyaksandar Vasilleu was found a suspect in the case of public slander of president Lukashenka. Vasilleu was to sign a decision about finding him a suspected person and was to sign an undertaking not to leave the place. It took place on June 16 in Lenin district Prosecutor’s office of Hrodna. Today he is summoned to the Prosecutor’s office for interrogation. The chairman of the All-Nation Strike Committee Valery Levaneuski is an alleged offender in this case as well. He is imprisoned since May 19 in Hrodna investigatory isolation ward. He is charged with production and dissemination of leaflets with the text insulting Alyaksandar Lukashenka. A criminal action has been brought up against Levaneuski on charges relating Article 368 Part 2 of the Criminal Code, Radio Svaboda informs.

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