The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 1 Dec 2011

01.12.2011 Argentinian human rights defenders demand freedom for Bialiatski

Delegation of COMITÉ DE ACCIÓN JURÍDICA (CAJ), a member organization of the International Federation for Human Rights, held an action in front of the Embassy of Belarus in Buenos-Aires, Argentina, on 25 November, the day after the announcement of the verdict to Ales Bialiatski.

01.12.2011 Navapolatsk: picket banned four times

Members of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union from the “Naftan” plant have received a fourth ban on holding a picket aimed at informing Navapolatsk citizens about the refusal of the plant administration to conclude a collective agreement with the independent trade union.

01.12.2011 Valiantsin Stefanovich to have two trials on 2 December

The trial concerning the exaction of taxes from human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich will start at 10 a.m. on 2 December at the Partyzanski District Court (Siamashka Street, 33). It was to have started on 15 November, but was postponed on Valiantsin's request, who couldn't appear in court for family reasons.

01.12.2011 Bialiatski's lawyer files appeal against court verdict

On 29 November lawyer Dzmitry Layeuski filed an appeal against the verdict of the Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk to human rights defender Ales Bialiatski with the Minsk City Court.

01.12.2011 Brest: police pay interest to prayers for Belarus

Several prayers for Belarus have taken place in Brest. Nobody was detained at them, but the police put down the personal data of their participations every time.

01.12.2011 Aftermath of People's Assemblies: Homel activists appeal against fines and arrests

On 30 November Valery Sliapukhin, a coordinator of the civil campaign “Tell the Truth!” filed an appeal with the Supreme Court. The activists disagrees with the rulings of the Chyhunachny District Court of Homel (according to which he was sentenced to a fine of 1,4 mln Belarusian rubles for “violation of the rules of conduct of mass events”) and the Homel Regional Court (which upheld the previous verdict).

01.12.2011 Orsha: human rights defenders appeal against picket ban

Orsha-based human rights defenders Vasil Berasneu and Vasil Leuchankau filed appeals with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Vitsebsk Regional Procuracy. They state that their freedom of expression, guaranteed by Article 35 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, was violated by the picket ban issued by the the Orsha City Executive Committee.

01.12.2011 KGB breaks unlawfully confiscated appliances

Human rights activist Ales Kaputski was returned his equipment seized during a search on 25 December 2010, in connection with a criminal case over “mass disorders”.

01.12.2011 Uladzislau Kavaliou's mother petitions Lukashenka

Uladzislau Kavaliou’s mother brought a petition for pardon of her son to Lukashenka’s outer office. Her son had been sentenced to death in Minsk metro blast case. In her address Liubou Kavaliova informs that she raised her son and daughter alone. “No one could reproach me ever with unworthily upbringing of my children,” the woman writes. She is sure that her son "could not have committed that hideous crime for which he had been convicted,” BelaPAN informs.

01.12.2011 AI and EU speak against execution of persons charged with terrorist attack in Minsk metro

After the verdict of the Supreme Court of Belarus to Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou has become known, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland has called upon Belarusian authorities not to carry into execution the judgment of death. BelaPAN has been informed about that by the press-service of the Council of Europe.

01.12.2011 Death penalty for two men in Belarus

The two death sentences handed down in Belarus today followed a trial that has failed to meet international fair trial standards, said Amnesty International.