The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 28 Nov 2011

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.

28.11.2011 Vitsebsk Regional Court turns down picket bans appeal

Vitsebsk Regional Court has dismissed appeals against numerous bans on pickets imposed by the administration of Chyhunachny district during the year.

28.11.2011 Homel court fines People’s Assembly participants

On 28 November, Homel Chyhunachny District Court convicted participants of the 8 October People’s Assembly of involvement in an illegal mass event.

28.11.2011 OSCE PA calls for release of Belarusian rights defender

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly leaders today expressed deep disappointment with yesterday's ruling in the case of Ales Bialiatski, leader of the Belarusian human rights organization Viasna.

28.11.2011 Fines for solidarity with Ales Bialiatski

On 26 November, Minsk Pershamaiski District Court convicted activists of the European Belarus movement of involvement in an action of solidarity with Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski held on the previous day, www.europeanbelarus.org reports.

28.11.2011 Human rights defenders demand not to execute the death verdicts to Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou

Belarusian human rights defenders strongly condemn the state prosecutor’s request to sentence to death Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou, defendants in the 11 April 2011 subway bombing trial.

28.11.2011 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders condemns ongoing judicial harassment against Mr. Valiantsin Stefanovich

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources of a new hearing planned for December 2, 2011 against Mr. Valiantsin Stefanovich, Vice-Chairman of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna”.

28.11.2011 Canada Condemns Conviction of Belarusian Human Rights Activist

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today condemned the conviction by Belarus of Ales Byalyatski, a long-time human rights defender and head of the human rights organization Vyasna.

28.11.2011 Belarus: Writer sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment over “politically motivated” charges

Human rights activist and Belarus PEN member Ales Byalyatski was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment on 24 November 2011 on charges of tax evasion. The charges, which stemmed from Byalyatski’s use of personal bank accounts to receive funding for his human rights organization Vyasna, were described as “politically motivated” in a European Union report released earlier this week.