The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 3 Oct 2011

03.10.2011 Actions to immediately release political prisoners in Belarus discussed at the OSCE Human Dimension Conference

The parallel event “Ales Bialiatski: symbolical case of violation of political and political rights in Belarus after the presidential elections of 2010” took place within the framework of the yearly Human Dimension Meeting of the OSCE. It was organized by a coalition of human rights organizations including the Norwegian Human Rights Committee, Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, World Organization against Torture, Amnesty International, Human Rights House Foundation, Human Rights Watch, Front Line, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Center Viasna. It was attended by former political prisoner Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, presidential candidate Vital Rymasheuski and leaders of the democratic parties of Belarus.

03.10.2011 Andrei Tsianiuta appeals against arrest

Andrei Tsianiuta was arrested for 10 days in Homel for handing out invitations to the People’s Assembly which will take place on 8 October in Minsk and other towns and cities of Belarus.

03.10.2011 Babruisk authorities prohibit signing for construction of school and hospital

Activists of the civil campaign “Tell the Truth!” are collecting signatures for the construction of a new school in the Zakhodni suburb, the reconstruction of the road on Krylou Street and concerning problems in the polyclinics in Farshtat suburb in Babruisk.

03.10.2011 Hrodna authorities pressurize civil activist Andrei Surhailis

Some time ago Andrei Surhailis was detained at a silent protest action and was punished with a fine. Later the Hrodna City Executive Committee didn't let him hold a picket against the increase of prices and pauperization of the population.

03.10.2011 KGB is interested in foreign contacts of Slonim democrats

Ivan Sheha, doctor of the Slonim District Hospital and activist of the BPF Party, was twice interrogated at the Slonim inter-district KGB Department.

03.10.2011 Brest authorities ban picket in support of political prisoners

Viktar Chaikouski, Deputy Chair of the civil association of entrepreneurs Perspective, received an answer from the Brest City Executive Committee to his applications for authorizing a number of pickets calling to stop the politically motivated harassment and torture of civil and political activists.

03.10.2011 Maladechna: detention during state festival “Dazhynki”

On 1 October opposition activist Siarhei Hirkin was detained at the railway station in Maladechna. He was kept in the transport police station for about an hour. The detention was connected to the festival.

03.10.2011 Lida authorities ban People's Assembly

According to the answer of the Lida authorities to the applicants, the application for holding the People's Assembly didn't conform to requirements of Article 5 of the Law “On mass events” as it didn't indicate who was responsible for securing the public order during the assembly.

03.10.2011 Smaliavichy: detention of Artur Eshbayeu

In the evening on 30 October civil activist Artur Eshbayeu was detained by police in his apartment. Then he was guarded to his house in the village of Drachkova, where a search was conducted. Nothing criminal was found there.

03.10.2011 Slutsk: civil action stopped by tractor

The campaign “Our Home” was going to organize a subbotnik in the local cemetery in 14 Partisans Street on 1 October.

03.10.2011 Vatslau Areshka and Valery Ukhnaliou attacked by people in mufti

Opposition politicians Siarhei Kaliakin, Anatol Liabedzka, Valery Ukhnaliou and Vatslau Areshka are going to hold a press conference titled “About the wave of gangster-like attacks” in Minsk on 3 October.

03.10.2011 Detention of Anatol Liabedzka

On return to Minsk the UCP leader found himself almost “in a hardboiled action film”.

03.10.2011 Iryna Khalip addresses Putin's and Medvedev's wives

The open letter of journalist and wife of the Belarusian ex-presidential candidate Andri Sannikau Iryna Khalip has been published in today's issue of the Russian “Novaya Gazeta”. Iryna turns the attention of Lyudmila Putina and Svetlana Medvedeva to the fact that the situation with Andrei Sannikau is crucial.