The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for January 2012

26.01.2012 Mahiliou human rights centre may stop working

The reason is financial conditions set by the local authorities.

26.01.2012 Human Rights House Network calls for immediate release and rehabilitation of Ales Bialiastki

The condemnation of Ales Bialiatski illustrates how seriously threatened freedom of association and freedom of expression are in Belarus. Members and partners of the Human Rights House Network call upon Belarusian authorities to immediately release and drop all charges against human rights defender Ales Bialiatski; to fully rehabilitate him and to ensure unhampered activities of human rights and other civil society organizations.

26.01.2012 Bialiatski should be set free, says OSCE Chairperson

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore T.D., expressed his regret today that prominent Belarusian human rights defender Aliaksandr (Ales) Bialiatski was not freed on appeal.

26.01.2012 Belarus might establish institution of ombudsmen

MINSK, 25 January (BelTA) – The institution of ombudsmen might be established in Belarus, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Belarus Piotr Miklashevich told reporters on 25 January, BelTA has learnt.

26.01.2012 PACE adopts resolution on Belarus

111 PACE members voted "for", only 10 voted "against", and 6 PACE members abstained.

26.01.2012 PACE rapporteur paints gloomy picture of situation in Belarus

Andres Herkel, the rapporteur for Belarus in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), painted a bleak picture of the situation in Belarus while presenting his report at PACE's winter session in Strasbourg on January 25.

26.01.2012 Death penalty disqualifies Belarus from any status in Council of Europe, secretary general says

The use of the death penalty makes it impossible for Belarus to have any status in the Council of Europe, Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland told reporters in Strasbourg on January 25.

Statement: Viasna strongly condemns use of torture, intimidation, blackmail and other intolerable kinds of harassment against prisoners of conscience

25.01.2012 Statement: Viasna strongly condemns use of torture, intimidation, blackmail and other intolerable kinds of harassment against prisoners of conscience

Minsk – 25 January 2012 The Human Rights Center “Viasna” strongly condemns the use of torture, intimidation, blackmail and other intolerable kinds of harassment against prisoners of conscience. Of especial concern is the recent report by Mrs. Iryna Khalip, the wife of former presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau, saying that the prisoner’s life is at risk due to the reported use of torture and inhuman treatment against him.

25.01.2012 Belarusian Constitutional Court ready to review its position on death penalty

The Constitutional Court of Belarus may clarify its position on the death penalty if an appropriate appeal from authorized bodies is received.

25.01.2012 Iryna Khalip: Lukashenka’s aim not to release Sannikov from prison alive

The wife of the presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov held an urgent press-conference on January 25.

25.01.2012 Andrej Sannikau sends request for pardon to Lukashenka

It happened back on November 20. The political prisoner says that they threatened him with his wife and son's security.

25.01.2012 Police complete investigation of criminal case against opposition activist Syarhey Kavalenka

The police in Vitsyebsk have completed the investigation of a fresh criminal case against Syarhey Kavalenka, a member of the Conservative Christian Party.

25.01.2012 Viasna won’t stop working!

Despite yesterday’s ruling by the Minsk City Court confirming the 4.5-year prison term to Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski, the Human Rights Center “Viasna” will continue its activities on a regular basis in the office it has occupied unless the premises are seized.

25.01.2012 Schulz condemns courts' decisions in Belarus

"Bialiatski should be released unconditionally along with the remaining political prisoners", says President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz.

25.01.2012 Belarus: Commissioner Füle with the activists of Viasna

Brussels - Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle met Vice-President of the Belarusian Human Rights Centre “Viasna” Valiantin Stefanovic to discuss the situation of human rights activists in Belarus.