The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2012

28.03.2012 Judge in Homyel hearing opposition activist`s suit against police

A judge of Homyel`s Tsentralny District Court on Tuesday resumed a hearing on opposition activist Uladzimir Nyapomnyashchykh’s lawsuit against the local police.

28.03.2012 Uladzislau Kavalyou shot on Constitution Day

It is indicated in his death certificate.

28.03.2012 Belarusian opposition leaders detained on the way to Moscow

Alyaksandr Atroshchankau, Syarhei Kalyakin and Anatol Lyabedzka were taken off the train on their way to Russia. They are to be tried today.

27.03.2012 Ivashkevich accused of “undermining” state sovereignty

Viktar Ivashkevich, a representative of the organizing committee to create Belarusian Movement Party, has been warned against the actions that may be aimed at “undermining the state sovereignty”.The warning to the politician was issued in the Prosecutor General's Office on March 27, BelaPAN reports.

27.03.2012 Ministry of Communication offical fired for giving equipment to opposition

The CEO of the unitary enterprise “Republican TV and Radio Transmitting Center” gave sound amplifying equipment for Freedom Day organizers.

27.03.2012 Education used as weapon against young people in Belarus

MINSK - Anastasia Shuleika was expelled from Belarus State University on 14 February for speaking out against President Alexander Lukashenko.

27.03.2012 Vitsebsk opposition activist sues executive officials

Vitsebsk member of the Conservative Christian Party-Belarusian Popular Front Yan Dziarzhautsau has lodged complaints with three district courts, contesting bans on holding pickets issued by the city’s executive authorities between 21 and 25 February.

27.03.2012 Lyabedzka sues Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Justice

Anatol Lyabedzka applied to the Tsentralny district court with a legal action against the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.

27.03.2012 Complaint on torture against Zmitser Bandarenka submitted to UN

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has received a complaint with a request to investigate facts of using torture against political prisoner Zmitser Bandarenka.

27.03.2012 Mikalai Dzyadok thrown into punishment cell for seventh time

Anarchist Mikalai Dzyadok was thrown into a punishment cell for six days allegedly for improper cell cleanup.

27.03.2012 Minsk court convicts another person detained in benefit concert

On 26 March Minsk Partyzanski District Court sentenced Mrs. Alena Dubovik to three days of administrative arrest.

27.03.2012 Amnesty International: Alarming levels of executions in the few countries that kill

Countries that carried out executions in 2011 did so at an alarming rate but those employing capital punishment have decreased by more than a third compared to a decade ago, Amnesty International found in its annual review of death sentences and executions.

26.03.2012 Ales Bialiatski wins Norwegian ‘Freedom of Expression’ award

The imprisoned leader of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski has been awarded the Freedom of Expression award by the Norwegian Authors´ Union (“Den norske Forfatterforening”).

26.03.2012 Minsk courts convict attendees of benefit concert

Today, Minsk Tsentralny District Court has considered the administrative charges brought against the teenagers arrested during the “Food Not Bombs” benefit concert held in the city’s MTZ Palace of Culture on 24 March.

26.03.2012 Belarus Hunger-Striker Moved To Psychiatric Clinic

MINSK -- Jailed Belarusian opposition activist Syarhey Kavalenka, whose health has significantly deteriorated during a lengthy hunger strike, has been transferred to a prison psychiatric clinic.