The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2012

European Parliament Vice-President's letter to Ales Bialiatski: "I write to assure you of the European Parliament's determination to have you released"

25.04.2012 European Parliament Vice-President's letter to Ales Bialiatski: "I write to assure you of the European Parliament's determination to have you released"

The EU "sanctions will continue as long as the Belarusian regime denies its citizens democracy and abuses their human rights," says Edward McMillan Scott, Vice-President of the European Parliament for Democracy & Human Rights, in his letter to the imprisoned leader of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski dated 19 April.

25.04.2012 Marek Migalski demands to stop torture of Mikalai Statkevich

A member of the European Parliament, Marek Migalski, has applied to the Corrections Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus.

25.04.2012 Police prevent executed person’s mother from contacts with journalist

Vitsebsk police attempted to prevent Russian journalists from interviewing the mother of Uladzislau Kavaliou, executed in March on charges of plotting a terrorist attack in Minsk underground back in April 2011.

25.04.2012 Policemen defile white-red-white flags seized during search at European Belarus activist’s flat

Aliaksandr Vialitchanka, activist of the European Belarus opposition movement, has finally managed to return the leaflets, banners and national flags seized by the police during a search at his apartment back on 15 February 2012. The things were returned as a result of a complaint lodged with Minsk Savetski District Police Department.

25.04.2012 Former political prisoner Pavel Vinahradau detained

Pavel Vinahradau, activist of the Tell the Truth civil campaign and former political prisoner, has been detained during his visit to the Minsk Maskouski District Criminal Executive Inspection, the Nasha Niva independent weekly reports, quoting the activist’s wife Sviatlana.

25.04.2012 UCP Hrodna activist harassed ahead of 26 April Chernobyl memorial picket

Hrodna activist of the United Civil Party Mrs. Aliaksandra Vasilevich has been reportedly visited by a policeman, who said the girl could face administrative charges in case she took part in the unsanctioned picket marking the 26th anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster scheduled for 26 April.

25.04.2012 Activist of anti-Lukashenka online campaign has his laptop seized

Belarusian customs officials seized a laptop belonging to Siarhei Biaspalau, activist of the Revolution through Social Network online campaign, after he was searched on a train crossing the Polish-Belarusian border on 23 April.

25.04.2012 Young Front activist to stand trial on hooliganism charges

Pavel Siarhei, activist of the Young Front youth opposition movement, was detained and taken to a detention center in Akrestsin Street back on 22 April, the Young Front’s press-service reports.

25.04.2012 Human Rights House Network: Appeal for immediate release and full rehabilitation of all political prisoners

Arbitrary detention is used in Belarus against political opponents and persons exercising their freedoms of conscience, opinion and expression. The use of arbitrary detention as a tool of systematic repression of critical voices constitutes a serious violation of human rights as the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention underlines1. We urge the authorities of the Republic of Belarus to release all political prisoners and to compensate them for the harm suffered.

25.04.2012 Marek Migalski takes over a prisoner’s godparenthood for Siarhei Kavalenka

"I have been monitoring the situation of Kavalenka for a long time and have taken a number of actions. In particular I addressed an appeal in writing to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus, appealed to the Prosecutor General and to the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz. As Siarhei's godfather I will continue to raise awareness of his case on the international arena, just like I have done it before," says Marek Migalski, a substitute to the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Belarus.

24.04.2012 Member of Polish Senate denied entry into Belarus

A member of Poland’s Senate was not allowed to enter Belarus on April 22.

24.04.2012 Statement by the Human Rights Center “Viasna”: Stop Criminal Prosecution of Vasil Parfiankou

On 19 April, Pershamaiski District Department of the Investigative Committee in Minsk notified the former political prisoner Vasil Parfiankou that he was facing criminal charges for violating the conditions of preventive supervision established by the Court of Minsk Pershamaiski District on January 5, 2012 for the period of one year.

23.04.2012 Vitsebsk authorities ban three Chernobyl-related pickets

Vitsebsk activists of the Conservative Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front” will not be able to hold a number of pickets marking the anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, after local activist Yan Dziarzhautsau received an official ban issued by the city’s executive authorities.

23.04.2012 Babruisk court upholds dismissal of local pro-dem activist

On 20 April, Babruisk court ordered to pay BYR 2,293,000 to local opposition activist Kanstantsin Loktseu as a compensation for the damage allegedly inflicted to him by his former employer. At the same time, the court failed to rehabilitate the activist’s rights by forcing the administration of a children’s summer camp “Mechta” to reinstate him to his former position as a boiler operator.

23.04.2012 Minsk police raid apartment of Young Front activist

Unknown representatives of law enforcement agencies have searched the residence of Young Front activist Mrs. Kasia Halitskaya, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.