The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for September 2010

28.09.2010 BHC representative denied membership on Vitsebsk district election commission

Vitsebsk district executive committee and Vitsebsk district council of deputies dismissed the nomination application by local human rights activist Leanid Svetsik, representing the Belarusian Helsinki Committee. The officials provided no explanations for the refusal to elect the human rights defender on Vitsebsk district election commission.

28.09.2010 3 opposition activists on Minsk city election commission

On 28 September, a joint meeting of the Presidium of Minsk city council of deputies and Minsk city executive committee formed Minsk city and Minsk district urban election commissions. As a result, 3 out of 13 nominees by opposition representatives were elected members of Minsk city election commission.

28.09.2010 Mahiliou region: 22 pro-dem activists on election commissions

Twenty two pro-democratic representatives have been elected members of election commissions of Mahiliou region, with 3 activists on Mahiliou regional commission and 19 persons on district ones, says Yury Novikau, chair of the Coordination Council of Mahiliou Regional Coalition of Pro-Democratic Forces.

28.09.2010 TIME TO CHANGE: STING SUPPORTS DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION CAMPAIGN IN BELARUS (video)

Sting, internationally-acclaimed musician and activist, has lent his support to the efforts of human rights defenders to abolish the use of the death penalty in Belarus. Sting recently performed in Minsk as part of his Symphonicity World Tour [www.sting.com] and met with human rights defenders to sign the petition for the latest round of the death penalty abolition campaign launched by the Belarus Helsinki Committee, Viasna and Amnesty International. "It's time to change," said Sting in a recorded message of support

27.09.2010 Human rights situation in Belarus is unacceptably poor and calls for systemic measures, HR Forum participants say

On 22-25 September, Vilnius hosted a series of events, with a social focus on the human rights situation in Belarus and the activities of human rights activists. On 22-23 September, the Human Rights House Network held its annual meeting, attended by over 60 human rights defenders from 17 countries. The participants of the meeting addressed the Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka with an appeal, calling him to take urgent measures to improve the country’s human rights record.

27.09.2010 Pinsk: no political party members on town election commission

On 27 September, a joint meeting of Pinsk town executive committee and the presidium of town council of deputies elected the staff of town election commission. As a result, representatives of the opposition ‘Just World’ party and the pro-state Communist Party of Belarus were not included in Pinsk town election commission.

27.09.2010 Nash Dom activist Shatsikava faces civil charges

Khrystsina Shatsikava, activist of the Nash Dom Mahiliou human rights civil campaign, has been charged with violating the procedures of distributing periodicals, after she was detained by Hrodna police in one of the city’s shops on 18 September.

27.09.2010 Homel opposition not included in regional election commission

Homel opposition activists were not allowed to join Homel regional executive commission, despite 6 nominations by various political parties. Most of the commission members are the persons who worked on the commission during the 2010 local elections.

27.09.2010 UCP activists not included in district election commissions

Dobrush, Kalinkavichy and Buda-Kashaliova (Homel region) activists of the United Civil Party were not allowed to join local election commissions, after their nomination applications were refused by executive authorities.

27.09.2010 Police keep arresting suspects in Russian embassy arson case

Minsk police arrested another suspect in the case of the recent arson on the territory of the Russian embassy. On 25 September, Ihar Trukhanovich was invited for a conversation and later detained by the police. The youth is currently in Detention Center in Akrestsin street and is facing charged under Article 339 of the Criminal Code – ‘hooliganism’.

27.09.2010 Young Front activist detained and interrogated

On 25 September unknown persons detained Yaraslau Hryshchenia, activist of the Young Front youth opposition organization and leader of the Avangard People movement, the Young Front’s press-service reports.

27.09.2010 Hrodna and Mahiliou authorities ban campaigning in most of public places

Hrodna city executive committee has released a special decree, enumerating the public places banned for election campaigning activities. Thus, most of the city’s public places cannot be used for collecting signatures for presidential candidates.

27.09.2010 Maladechna: Lukashenka’s initiative group forced formation

Maladechna teachers were forced to join the initiative group for nominating the current President Aliaksandr Lukashenka, local observers report.

27.09.2010 Human Rights House Network calls upon Belarus to take urgent measures to meet international human rights standards

On 22-23 September Vilnius hosted the 2010 Human Rights House Network (HRHN) Annual Meeting, a forum of cooperation between established and emerging Human Rights Houses, uniting 70 NGOs in 15 countries. The Meeting was attended by human rights defenders from 17 countries.

24.09.2010 Campaigning for Lukashenka already underway

Local pro-state media have already started the pre-election campaign of the current president Aliaksandr Lukashenka, despite the fact he has not yet officially announced his run in the forthcoming presidential election.