The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2012

30.04.2012 Minsk police raid movie screening by Free Theatre

Some 20 people were reportedly detained in Minsk this evening by riot police during a screening of the “Europe’s Last Dictator” documentary at a flat rented by the Free Theatre.

30.04.2012 Lithuanian MP not allowed in Belarus

A member of the Lithuanian Parliament, Kazimieras Uoka, was ordered to get off the train and return to Vilnius.

30.04.2012 Another Young Front activist convicted

On 28 April, Minsk Savetski District Court sentenced Young Front activist Zmitser Kremianetski to seven days of administrative arrest for alleged violation of public order outside the court building where other Young Front members were tried on 27 April, the Young Front’s press-service reports, quoting human rights defender Nasta Loika.

30.04.2012 Orsha authorities ban pickets again

Another ban on holding two pickets on May Day was received by Orsha activists of the United Leftist Party “Fair World”.

30.04.2012 Russian President’s Human Rights Council urges Medvedev to aid Ales Bialiatski’s release

“We ask you to use all of your power to foster the release of our colleague Ales Bialiatski held in detention in Belarus,” says an appeal passed to Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev in his meeting with the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights on 28 April.

30.04.2012 Activist robbed during Chernobyl Way rally

Activist from Varnyany Mikalai Ulasevich continues to seek justice from the local authorities.

30.04.2012 Biarozauka police seize independent newspapers

On 27 April, the police of the town of Biarozauka, Lida district, Hrodna region, detained local activists of the Belarusian Popular Front Party and For Freedom movement Siarhei Trafimchyk and Vitold Ashurak, and seized 800 copies of the Novy Chas independent newspaper.

30.04.2012 Orsha activists launch information campaign on Stalinist repressions

Orsha youth group called Zviaz is looking for the families of people who were killed as a result of mass repressions in the 1930s-1950s, as part of a campaign aimed at producing a newsletter on the Great Purge of the Stalin Era.

30.04.2012 Asipovichy activist goes on hunger strike in Minsk prison

Ihar Simbirou, Asipovichy activist of the Teel the Truth civil campaign, has reportedly declared a hunger strike while serving ten days of arrest in Minsk detention center in Akrestsin Street, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports, quoting his former cellmate.

28.04.2012 Former political prisoner Yaromenak given 7 days in custody

Uladzimir Yaromenak, a Young Front activist, has been sentenced to 7 days in custody.

27.04.2012 Chernobyl Way protesters convicted in administrative trials

Minsk Savetski District Court has considered the administrative charges brought against seven protesters detained during yesterday’s Chernobyl Way march. Zmitser Shauliukevich, Mikola Dzemidzenka, Mikhail Muski and Raman Vasilyeu were sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest each.

27.04.2012 Belarusian MFA resists country’s accession to UN Convention on Enforced Disappearance

There is no need in Belarus’ signature of the UN International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, since its provisions are already enshrined in the domestic laws, says an official reply from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received by Mrs. Sviatlana Zavadskaya, the widow of Dzmitry Zavadski.

27.04.2012 Vitsebsk Regional Court turns down appeal against Freedom Day rally ban

On 26 April, the board of Vitsebsk regional Court dismissed a complaint lodged by local pro-democratic activists Khrystafor Zhaliapau, Aliaksei Haurutsikau and Yan Dziarzhautsau against an earlier ban on holding a rally and a meeting on Freedom Day (25 March) imposed by deputy chair of the city’s executive committee Uladzimir Shloma.

27.04.2012 Violations of trade union rights in Belarus on agenda of International Labor Organization`s meeting

The Conference Committee on the Application of Standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO) will look at violations of trade union rights in Belarus at a meeting to take place in Geneva between June 4 and 9.

27.04.2012 Krychau district prosecutor ignores appeals by independent journalists

Uladzimir Tryvaila, Prosecutor of Krychau district (Mahiliou region), has repeatedly ignored appeals by journalists of the Volny Horad independent newspaper, who have been requesting information on combating corruption and organized criminal activity.