The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 23 Apr 2009

Mikhail Pastukhou: ‘The abolition of the death penalty is a sign of the state’s and the society’s achievement of a certain level of development when the human life is recognized as the supreme value not to be defied by anyone, including the state’

23.04.2009 Mikhail Pastukhou: ‘The abolition of the death penalty is a sign of the state’s and the society’s achievement of a certain level of development when the human life is recognized as the supreme value not to be defied by anyone, including the state’

Mikhail Pastukhou, famous lawyer and human rights expert, head of the Legal Aid Center of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, ex-judge of the Belarusian Supreme Court (1994-1996), has joined the civil campaign promoting the abolition of the capital punishment in Belarus ‘Human Rights Activists against the Death penalty.’ He stresses that the issue is ripe and certain measures should be taken.

23.04.2009 Estonian Foreign Minister says EU should force Belarus respect human rights

On 22 April the Tallinn-based EU Information Center hosted a debate on Belarus’ membership in the Eastern Partnership program, featuring the Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, MP Andres Herkel, as well as Belarusian students, studying in Estonia. ‘Minister Paet stressed that the European Union’s objective was making Minsk respect human rights in the country and observe international standards in the sphere. Otherwise, the EU may within a short period of time reimpose all its former sanctions on the existing regime,’ said the initiator of the meeting head of the Open Republic youth NGO Yauhen Kryshtafovich. ‘There is no doubt that changes do not occur within half a year, but, as the MP Herkel and Mr. Kryshtafovich stressed, Lukashenka could have abolish the controversial articles within 30 minutes. The cooperation is only possible in case it is mutual,’ said Ihar Sluchak, Belarusian student of Tartu University.

23.04.2009 Mahiliou Court turns down claim by independent trade union

On 22 April Mahiliou Leninski Court turned down the claim by the independent trade union of radioelectronic industry against the illegal refusal to register the trade union’s local office by Mahiliou city authorities. The decision was based on the unanimity of the fonders’ occupations. During the trial the trade union’s legal inspector Aliaksandr Karaliou called the decision by the authorities a politically motivated one and demanded that the court reversed it, since it violated the Belarusian legislation and a number of international treaties ratified by Belarus.

23.04.2009 Oppositionist convicted lacking corpus delicti

Brest Regional Court has turned down the appeal by Baranavichy activist Ryhor Hryk, who had been accused of organizing an unauthorized entrepreneur rally in Baranavichy in January 2009 and fined BYR 700,000. According to the human rights activist Siarhei Housha, it was proven that Hryk had not been the organizer of the rally. Besides, the arrest records were drawn up illegally. The witnesses stated in the records testified that they had not named Hryk the organizer of the rally. However, the courts of the two levels paid no attention to this evidence and convicted the activist. Ryhor Hryk considers the case a provocation by the KGB and the police and is going to appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court.

23.04.2009 Activist Mikhail Ilyin gets 10 days of prison

Brest Leninski Court has found a Young Front member Mikhail Ilyin guilty of disorderly conduct and sentenced him to 10 days of imprisonment. ‘Mr.Ilyin did not deny that he had laid a toilet and four rolls of toilet paper under the monument to Lenin in the central square of the city on 22 April. According to him, by doing this he expressed his attitude towards Communism and the existing cult of Lenin’s personality,’ said the human rights activist Raman Kisliak.