The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for November 2011

30.11.2011 Supreme Court passes death verdict in subway bombing trial

Today, the Supreme Court of Belarus sentenced Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou to death on charges of plotting and executing several explosions, including a powerful blast in the Minsk underground on 11 April 2011, which claimed 15 lives.

30.11.2011 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights releases statement on Bialiatski's conviction

The sentencing of leading Belarusian human rights defender, Ales Bialiatski to 4.5 years in prison last week is disappointing and we are concerned that it will have a negative impact on the ability of Belarusian civil society to operate freely and without fear.

30.11.2011 Slonim authorities ban picket in support of Ales Bialiatski

Slonim district executive committee has banned a picket of solidarity with imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski, referring to the absence of authorized locations for holding such events.

30.11.2011 Lawyer not allowed to meet Andrei Sannikau again

The ex-presidential candidate has not been able to meet his lawyer for two weeks.

30.11.2011 UN urges to release political prisoners in Belarus

The United Nations calls upon the Belarusian authorities to release all political opponents imprisoned for exercising their rights, immediately.

30.11.2011 Detained “Platforma” activist brutally beaten in police department

Yury Chyhilejchyk, an activist of “Platforma” informational outreach group, was beaten beyond recognition.

29.11.2011 STATEMENT OF THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM

On 24 November, in Belarus, a politically motivated verdict was pronounced against a prominent human rights defender, leader of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Ales Bialiatski. He was found guilty of alleged “tax evasion on a large scale” and sentenced to four and a half years of imprisonment in a high security penal colony with confiscation of property.

29.11.2011 Minsk court turns down appeal by For Freedom activist

Judge Uladzimir Karnou of Minsk City Court has dismissed a complaint lodged by famous blogger and member of the For Freedom opposition movement Yuras Navitski, who attempted to appeal the 12-day administrative arrest he received for alleged swearing in a public place, www.pyx.by reports.

29.11.2011 Baranavichy activist to stand trial for solidarity picket

Baranavichy youth activist Artsiom Babei is facing administrative charges for involvement in a picket of solidarity with Belarusian prisoners of conscience staged on 24 October.

29.11.2011 Amnesty International launches campaign to support Ales Byalyatski

Amnesty International has launched a campaign to gather appeals to the Belarusian authorities demanding to immediately release head of Viasna human rights centre Ales Byalyatski.

29.11.2011 Belarus does not satisfy UN Committee against Torture

In its Concluding Observations, the Committee against Torture makes a first harsh observation of the dialogue: Belarus’ delayed report prevented the experts for almost a decade from analysing the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

29.11.2011 Latin America human rights defenders join campaign of solidarity with Ales Bialiatski

"Today in Mexico we presented the Annual Report of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. The presenters included human rights defenders from Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela. At the end of the presentation we took the photo that is attached. Please accept it as a symbol of our support and solidarity at this difficult time and of our hope that justice will prevail and Ales Bialiatski will soon be free", says a letter of support recieved by the Human Rights Center Viasna from Latin America.

28.11.2011 Sign a petition for the release of Ales Bialiatski!

Representatives of the Belarusian civil society, who have publicly denounced the illegal conviction of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, call upon their colleagues, ordinary citizens and international community to support the imprisoned activist and request his immediate release.

28.11.2011 “Once you’ve killed an innocent person, you cannot set it back”

On 28 November the Minsk office of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee hosted a press-conference on the upcoming verdict in the 11 April 2011 subway bombing trial in the context of the death penalty.

28.11.2011 Observatory's urgent appeal on arrest and subsequent release of Mr. Andrei Paluda, and confiscation of his material

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources of the arrest of Mr. Andrei Paluda, a human rights defender from Belarus, and the confiscation of his material.