EUR 49/010/2006
Further Information on UA 110/06 (EUR 49/007/2006, 03 May 2006)
Arbitrary detention
BELARUS : Alyaksandr Bukhvostov (m)
Zmitser Dashkevich (m)
Sergei Kalyakin (m)
Alyaksandr Milinkevich (m)
Vintsuk Vyachorka (m)
18 May 2006
The five prisoners of conscience named above, have all been released following their detention for taking part in a peaceful march in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on 26 April.
All five men were tried and convicted on 27 April under article 167 of the administrative code, for "organizing an unsanctioned meeting". Alyaksandr Milinkevich, Vintsuk Vyachorka and Alyaksandr Bukhvostov were sentenced to 15 days’ imprisonment, whilst Zmitser Dashkevich and Sergei Kalyakin were sentenced to 14 days. All five men served their full term.
Amnesty International considered that they had been detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression, which are guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the Belarusian government has ratified.
Many thanks to all who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.
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