The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2012

27.04.2012 Authorities ban May Day meetings

Minsk city executive committee has not sanctioned an opposition meeting on 1 May, says Valery Ukhnaliou, deputy chairman of the United Leftist Party “Fair World”.

27.04.2012 Convicted anarchist denied meeting with mother

The administration of Ivatsevichy penal colony No. 22 has not allowed Aliaksandr Frantskevich’s meeting with his mother scheduled for 4 May.

27.04.2012 Pavel Sevyarynets denied release on parole again

The administration of the special detention facility confirmed Pavel Sevyarynets's certificate of good conduct.

27.04.2012 Young Front flat raided in Minsk

On April 26, unknown people penetrated into a flat rented by Young Front activists.

27.04.2012 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay: New restrictions on NGOs are undermining human rights

GENEVA (25 April 2012) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Wednesday expressed deep concern about current or recent moves in a number of countries to curtail the freedom of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other civil society actors to operate independently and effectively. Pillay noted that freedom of association is under increasing pressure in many countries across the world. “Freedom of association is the lifeblood of NGOs,” she said. “Systemic legal or administrative attempts to curtail their activities can be very damaging.”

27.04.2012 40 detained in Chernobyl Way march

Some 40 protesters were reportedly detained and taken to police stations during yesterday’s Chernobyl Way opposition march. Most of the detained protesters were eventually released without charges.

26.04.2012 United Civil Party’s activists’ homes searched in Astravets

283 copies of the newspaper Golos Razuma were withdrawn from Ivan Kruk. Mikola Ulasievich’s house in Varniany village, Astravets district, was searched, too, although the owner wasn’t home.

26.04.2012 Former political prisoner Pavel Vinahradau sentenced to 5-day arrest

Former political prisoner Pavel Vinahradau, who was detained during his yesterday’s visit to police, has been sentenced to five days of administrative arrest by Minsk Maskouski District Court on hooliganism charges (Art. 17.1 of the Administrative Code).

26.04.2012 Orsha court denies violations in travel black list trial

There were no procedural violations during the trial of Anatol Liabedzka, Siarhei Kaliakin and Aliaksandr Atroshchankau in late March, says an official reply from the Court’s Chairwoman Mrs. Karetnikava, received by Mikalai Dziamidau, leader of the Fair World’s Orsha office.

26.04.2012 Asipovichy activist detained and convicted in Minsk

Ihar Simbirou, activist from the town of Asipovichy, Mahiliou region, was detained by police at the central railway station in Minsk. The activist was later taken to Kastrychnitski District Court and sentenced to ten days of administrative arrest on hooliganism charges.

26.04.2012 Brest police detained local pro-dem activists

Brest civil activists Marat Nestsiarenka and Aliaksandr Akhmach have been detained by local police, as they were distributing information materials on the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, and the construction of a nuclear power plant.

26.04.2012 “Viasna” marks 16 years of activity

It was 16 years ago, when after a wave of brutal arrests during the traditional Chernobyl Way march a group of activists started collecting and disseminating information on the detainees, trying to give them financial support. This is how “Viasna-96” was founded, whose priority was providing assistance to the victims of political repressions and sharing information on these repressions.

26.04.2012 Anatol Lyabedzka detained on his way to Astravets

The leader of the United Civil Party (UCP), Anatol Lyabedzka, and other UCP members were detained on their way to the town of Astravets (the Hrodna region).

26.04.2012 Young Front activist convicted

Minsk Maskouski District Court has sentenced Zmitser Stankevich, activist of the Young Front opposition movement, to three days of administrative arrest on disorderly conduct charges.