The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 4 Feb 2009

04.02.2009 ‘Belposhta’ refuses to subscribe readers to independent press, referring to Constitution

Three weeks ago a member of the council of the For Freedom movement Ales Zarembiuk received an answer to his address to A.Charniak, the head of the state monopolist on subscription Belposhta. In his address to the official Zarembiuk proposed that Belposhta returned the non-state newspapers Novy Chas and Hazeta Slonimskaya to the subscription catalog.

04.02.2009 The use of tortures against opposition is the reality for Lukashenka’s Belarus

Belarusian human rights activists report about facts of torturing of the opposition by representatives of the Belarusian law machinery.

04.02.2009 Human rights activists have a meeting with vice-Minister of Justice

The Minister of Justice accepts citizens only once a months, on the first Wednesday. On 4 February the Belarusian human rights activists, founders of the Nasha Viasna NGO Ales Bialiatski and Tatsiana Reviaka came to the Ministry of Justice to meet with the minister. However, the official was away and the audience was held by the vice-minister Alexander Simanau.

04.02.2009 Vitsebsk: police detain Barys Khamaida for handing out leaflets

On 4 February officers of Chyhunachny district police department of Vitsebsk detained the well-known opposition activist Barys Khamaida for handing out leaflets with the national emblem Pahonia. The matter is that the authorities of Vitsebsk oblast propose to make Pahonia the official emblem of Vitsebsk oblast, but take as sample the emblem of Vitsebsk oblast in the times of the Russian Empire.

04.02.2009 Belarus is cited among the most dangerous countries for journalists

The international journalist community has composed a list of the countries that are most dangerous for representatives of mass media.

04.02.2009 Supreme Court and Office of Prosecutor General considered address of citizens concerning unfair court verdicts to their relatives

As it follows from the letter that has been received by a resident of Minsk Liudmila Kuchura from Stanislau Buko, the head of the main department of the presidential administration on work with applications of citizens and legal entities, on the errand of the president the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor General considered the address of the citizens who disagree with the court verdicts issued on the criminal and administrative cases against their relatives.