The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for January 2012

20.01.2012 Resident of Bykhau district demands to prosecute local policeman for forgery

Aliaksandr Shachanok, resident of the village of Dabuzha, Bykhau district, Mahiliou region, has addressed the district’s prosecutor’s office with a demand to re-initiate criminal prosecution against local policeman lieutenant Vashchyla, after his previous demand was dismissed by the police department.

20.01.2012 Valiantsin Stefanovich appeals court ruling in tax trial

On 19 January, deputy chair of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Valiantsin Stefanovich lodged a complaint with Minsk City Court demanding to reverse an earlier decision of 16 December 2011 by Minsk Partyzanski District Court to exact 56 mln. rubles of fine for alleged tax violations.

20.01.2012 Supreme Court turns down appeals by convicted anarchists

The Supreme Court of Belarus has dismissed the appeals lodged by activists of the anarchists’ movement Artsiom Prakapenka and Pavel Syramolatau sentenced to seven years of imprisonment for alleged attack on the KGB Babruisk office, www.belaruspartisan.org reports.

20.01.2012 Vitsebsk police question wife of Siarhei Kavalenka

Mrs. Alena Kavalenka, the wife of Vitsebsk activist of the Christian Conservative Party “Belarusian Popular Front” Siarhei Kavalenka, who is currently facing criminal charges for alleged violation of parole restrictions, has been interrogated by local police, the Nasha Niva newspaper reports.

20.01.2012 Swedish Social Democrat denied entry to Belarus

The Belarusian Embassy to Stockholm has refused to issue a visa to member of the Arbetarepartiet-Socialdemokraterna Party Mr. Lars-Ove Jansson, who was expected to pay a visit to Brest region.

20.01.2012 French Torture Charge Against Belarus Minister

A group of alleged victims of the Belarus regime have filed a case in a Paris court against visiting Belarusian Interior Minister Anatoly Kuleshov.

19.01.2012 Andrey Yurov: “I cannot say that we have achieved brilliant success in Belarus”

Well-known Russian human rights activist Andrey Yurov, head of the International Observation Mission of the Committee on International Control over the Situation with Human Rights in Belarus, wrote a brief article in which he summarized the main results of 2011 and noted the important trends for the future of the human rights movement in the CIS countries.

19.01.2012 Arche magazine warned by Information Ministry

The latest issue of the Arche magazine (No. 10, 2011) violated Article 22 of the Mass Media Code, the press-service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports, quoting official Mrs. Tatsiana Bondar.

19.01.2012 Slonim court turns down complain by local BPF leader

On 19 January, Slonim District Court dismissed an appeal against a decision by the town executive committee to ban a series of pickets of solidarity with Ales Bialiatski.

19.01.2012 Belarusian Christian Democracy denied registration again

The Belarusian Christian Democracy party has been denied state registration for the fourth time straight, said Minister of Justice Aleh Slizheuski at a press-conference on 19 January.

19.01.2012 Belarusian NGO leaders thank people for joining campaign of solidarity with Ales Bialiatski

We, representatives of Belarusian civil society, would like to express our deep gratitude to the citizens of Belarus who acceded to our appeal for solidarity with the imprisoned leader of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski through contribution to the money-raising campaign to “repair the damage inflicted by the offence”, as ordered by a court ruling.

19.01.2012 Jailed Belarusian Activist On Hunger Strike Being 'Forcibly Fed'

VITSEBSK, Belarus -- Medical personnel have begun forcibly feeding a jailed political activist on hunger strike in eastern Belarus, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports.

18.01.2012 BCD Mahiliou leader faces dismissal

Aleh Aksionau, chair of Mahiliou city office of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, has been informed that his employment contract would not be extended by the administration of local house building factory, the Narodnaya Volya newspaper reports.

18.01.2012 Minsk authorities ban over 60 pickets in support of Ales Bialiatski

None of over 60 pickets in support of imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski expected to be staged by human rights defenders was authorized by Minsk executive authorities.

18.01.2012 Baranavichy activist faces arrogation charges

Baranavichy activist Mikalai Charnavus has been charged under Art. 23.39 of the Administrative Code for alleged usurping the authority of head of local Ukrainian minority union in his application for a picket.