(WiPC/IFEX) – International PEN condemns the arrest and subsequent 10 day administrative sentence served against writer Andrej Dynko. He is among hundreds of people arrested in recent days for their participation in peaceful protests against the re-election of President Lukashenko. It calls for Andrej Dynko’s immediate and unconditional release, as well as that of other […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – International PEN condemns the arrest and subsequent 10 day administrative sentence served against writer Andrej Dynko. He is among hundreds of people arrested in recent days for their participation in peaceful protests against the re-election of President Lukashenko. It calls for Andrej Dynko’s immediate and unconditional release, as well as that of other writers and journalists similarly sentenced for their peaceful participation in protests against the election. It also expresses alarm at reports of beatings of protestors and poor prison conditions, and urges the Belarus authorities to ensure that there be no further attacks on demonstrators and that all those currently detained are treated humanely.
Andrej Dynko, age 32, is vice editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper “Nasha Niva”, and editor of the cultural magazine “Arche”. Also a writer and translator, Dynko is Vice President of the Belarus PEN Centre. He was arrested on the morning of 21 March 2006 on his way to October Square in Minsk, reportedly to provide food and support to demonstrators who have been camped there in protest against the election. Early today, 24 March, riot police entered the square, cleared out the demonstrators and took away over 100 demonstrators. Another major demonstration is planned for 25 March.
According to reports, Dynko was apprehended on a bus by two plain clothed police and subsequently charged with “hooliganism” for using “bad language”. He was given a 10-day sentence. Shortly before the elections, Dynko was quoted in “Le Monde Diplomatique” as saying that “Lukashenko’s regime could turn out to be an historic opportunity for Belarus finally to come together as a nation, in opposition to this regime built on lies and hollow state ideology”.
“Nasha Niva”, of which Dynko is vice editor in chief, has been subject to constant harassment. Recently the authorities ordered that the licence to distribute “Nasha Niva” would not be renewed as from 1 January leading Dynko to tell the press that it would be distributed directly to subscribers’ homes. “Arche” has similarly had distribution problems.
Among those arrested with Dynko was Yuri Chavusau, a lawyer, activist and contributor to “Arche”, who was also served with a 10 day sentence. The Belarus Association of Journalists has reported that 20 journalists have been sentenced in recent days.
Dynko is reported to have complained that prison conditions are poor. Cells are unheated, wardens keep radios turned on throughout the night making it impossible for inmates to sleep, and basic necessities such as toilet paper are denied. The Committee to Protect Journalists has also been monitoring the arrests. For more information, go to:
http://baj.ru/indexe.htm
http://www.cpj.org/news/2006/europe/belarus21mar06na.html
www.cpj.org/news/2006/europe/belarus16mar06na.html
