The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 17 Apr 2008

17.04.2008 Pro-dem forces to readdress parliament for election code changes

According to the UCPB leader Anatol Liabedzka, the National Committee of the United Democratic Forces will address the Belarusian parliament with a request to introduce changes to the electoral code of Belarus. Most of them deal with the system of monitoring poll procedures, as well as the rights and opportunities of inner and external observers.

17.04.2008 Belarusian political prisoners demand to stop repressions

Belarusian political prisoners called upon the world community to insist on Belarusian authorities’ stopping to utilize political repressions in the country. The appeal was sent to the UN key persons including UN Secretary General and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, along with OSCE and a number of foreign embassies to Belarus. The authors of the address mention the political trials of this spring that can result in long terms for a dozen youth activists. They also demand to stop persecuting civil and political organizations critical of the existing regime.

17.04.2008 Dobrush teacher fired for social activity

Dobrush district court turned down a claim by Klaudzia Varanets, a school teacher and a UCPB activist, demanding to reverse the decision by local education department to sack Varanets for ‘absence from work’ as she was having rest abroad. She was accused of failing to wait for the official permit for leave. Varanets’ lawyer Leanid Sudalenka says the school administration and the education department violated the labour legislation. He also said that he considers the verdict a politically motivated move.

17.04.2008 Viasna to appeal against registration ban

The key persons of the human rights center Viasna are trying to regain official status for their organization by appealing against the decision of the Supreme Court of Belarus depriving Viasna of state registration. In case their claim is not met again, the activists intend to address the UN Human Rights Committee.

17.04.2008 Activists detained

Kanstantsin Zhukouski and Sviataslau Shapavalau, activists of the Belarusian Christian Democracy movement, were detained for distributing leaflets in the town of Vetka, Homel region.

17.04.2008 Swedish Human Rights Defenders Express Support to the Persons Charged in “Case of 10”

Today, April 16, Swedish human rights defenders from the Swedish Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights expresse their support to the persons charged in the “criminal case of 10”.