The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for November 2011

25.11.2011 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders: A sad day for the defence of human rights in the world

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), condemns the sentencing to prison of Mr. Ales Bialiatski, FIDH Vice-President and President of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Viasna”, and denounces it as a move to silence the Belarusian civil society.

25.11.2011 Belarusian authorities had no right to prosecute Byalyatski on basis of information obtained from Lithuania, says justice minister

Authorities in Belarus did not have the right to use information obtained from the Lithuanian justice ministry on Ales Byalyatski’s bank account in the Baltic state to prosecute the human rights activist, Lithuanian Justice Minister Remigijus Simasius said in an interview with the Baltic News Service on Thursday, BelaPAN said.

25.11.2011 Syarhei Kavalenka detained in Vitsebsk

Syarhei Kavalenka was traditionally accused by police of swearing.

25.11.2011 47 Belarusian NGOs release statement on illegal conviction of Ales Bialiatski

47 Belarusian NGOs have released a joint statement, demanding an immediate release of Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski following his conviction on 24 November.

25.11.2011 Czech Republic shocked by court decision to sentence Ales Bialatsky

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic considers this trial as politically motivated and urges Belarusian authorities to end repressions against representatives of the Belarusian civil society.

25.11.2011 “New legislative amendments unduly restrict fundamental rights,” warn UN experts

Three United Nations independent experts warned that the new legislative amendments recently adopted by the National Assembly of Belarus may severely and arbitrarily restrict the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and expression, and breach international law.

25.11.2011 Belarusian Christians Sue Minsk Police

Christian organizations in Minsk filed a lawsuit today against police in connection with the violent dispersal on November 22 of Christians gathered in the Belarusian capital's October Square, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports.

25.11.2011 Baranavichy activist summoned to local prosecutor’s office

Baranavichy civil activist Ryhor Hryk has been summoned for “conversation” to the city’s Prosecutor’s Office concerning his involvement in the People’s Assembly on 8 October.

25.11.2011 Union of Belarusian Writers calls for international support of Ales Bialaitski

The Union of Belarusian Writers considers the official charge to be a politically-motivated decision and prosecution for civic activities.

25.11.2011 Brest court turns down picket ban appeal

Brest Leninski District Court has dismissed a complaint against a ban on holding a picket of support to political prisoners imposed by local executive officials.

25.11.2011 Humiliated activist fined

On 24 November, Mahiliou court fined Belarusian Popular Front activist Andrei Padaliak BYR 525,000 for alleged using of foul language on the previous evening.

25.11.2011 Human Rights Watch: Conviction of Rights Defender a Blow for Rule of Law

The conviction of the Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski on charges of tax evasion on November 24, 2011, and his prison sentence of 4 years and 6 months with confiscation of all assets were unjustified and politically motivated, Human Rights Watch said today.

25.11.2011 French Foreign Ministry: Official Paris shocked by verdict to Byalyatski

Official Paris shocked by the verdict of the court in the case of Ales Byalyatski, a Belarusian human rights activist, and calls upon his release again, stated the official representative of the Foreign Ministry of France, Bernard Valereau.

25.11.2011 Human RIghts House Network: Call for immediate release and rehabilitation of Ales Bialiatski

64 human rights organizations, members and partners of the Human Rights House Network, resolutely condemn the court verdict to sentence Ales Bialiatski to 4,5 years imprisonment with confiscation of his property.

25.11.2011 Libereco launches a photo-petition for Ales Bialiatski

The Human Rights Organisation Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights condemns the jail sentence of 4.5 years that was imposed on the Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski on November 24th 2011. Together with Belarusian and international human rights organisations Libereco demands the immediate and unconditional release of Ales Bialiatski, who has been detained and sentenced for political reasons only.