The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 2 Sep 2011

02.09.2011 Barysau: police detain Anatol Askerka and Mikalai Pakhabau

Civil activists Anatol Askerka and Mikalai Pakhabau were detained while collecting signatures in support of holding the People’s Assembly in Barysau.

02.09.2011 Homel: fine to Halina Staraselets left standing

On 2 September the Tsentralny District Court of Homel repeatedly considered the administrative case against Halina Staraselets. She was again found guilty of using obscene language in public (Article 17.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and was fined 105,000 rubles.

02.09.2011 Frontline urges Belarusian authorities to stop harassment of human rights defenders

Seven human rights defenders were arrested and briefly detained throughout Belarus on 23 August 2011, while holding peaceful demonstrations during which they called for the release of prominent human rights defender Mr Ales Bialiatski who was arrested and detained on 4 August 2011.

02.09.2011 Hrodna: Viktar Sazonau received charges

On 2 September Viktar Sazonau, human rights defender from Hrodna, was summonsed to the police station in Haradnichanskaya Street. There he was informed that a report for violation of Article 22.9, “unlawful production and distribution of unregistered printed production”, had been drawn up on him.

02.09.2011 Presidential candidate Dzmitry Uss’ meeting with his wife was shortened because of his refusal to ask for clemency

These days Dzmitry Uss, a candidate for presidential position who was sentenced to 5.5 years of imprisonment, will have a meeting with his wife. As a rule, long-term meetings last for three days. However, in Dzmitry’s case the meeting was reduced to one day because of his refusal to write a letter to Lukashenka so that the latter could “grant parole” to him.

02.09.2011 Stéphane Hessel, a drafter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed personal guarantee for Ales Bialiatski

Stéphane Hessel, Honorable President of the Committee of members of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), went through many challenges in his life. Being a participant of the French and English anti-Nazi Resistance, he was taken to Buchenwald where he was to have been executed by shooting, but managed to escape.

Yuri Jibladze, member of Council of President of the Russian Federation for Civil Society Development and Human Rights, declared persona non-grata in Belarus

02.09.2011 Yuri Jibladze, member of Council of President of the Russian Federation for Civil Society Development and Human Rights, declared persona non-grata in Belarus

Juri Jibladze, a member of Council of President of the Russian Federation for Civil Society Development and Human Rights, President of the Center for Democracy Development and Human Rights, was informed about it by Belarusian guards on the Lithuanian border. However, they didn't present any official papers and didn't put any seals in his passport.

02.09.2011 Bialiatski's lawyer passed passes 816 personal guarantees to Financial Investigations Department

On 2 September the lawyer of Ales Bialiatski passed 816 personal guarantees for Ales Bialiatski to the Minsk City and Region Financial Investigations Department of the State Control Committee. The signers of the papers ask the investigations to change the restraint to the human rights defender to a written undertaking not to leave.

02.09.2011 Lukashenka released 4 political prisoners: more than 20 remain in jail

On 2 September Aliaksandr Lukashenka granted parole to four participants of the peaceful protest action against the rigged presidential election held on 19 December 2010.