The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for June 2012

22.06.2012 Belarus holds another political prisoner – journalist Andrei Pachobut

Statement by the Human Rights Center “Viasna” The Human Rights Center “Viasna” strongly condemns the arrest of and libel charges brought against journalist Andrei Pachobut, and views the case as politically motivated harassment aimed at sanctioning his professional activities and freedom of expression. We consider Andrei Pachobut another political prisoner and demand his immediate and unconditional release.

22.06.2012 Head of American Bar Association sends letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on violations of international law in Belarus

William T. Robinson III, President of the American Bar Association, has sent a letter of concern to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Navanethem Pillay urging her to address violations of international law in Belarus.

22.06.2012 UN to address discrimination of women in Belarusian detention centers

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has appointed three Special Rapporteurs to monitor the situation in Belarusian pre-trial prisons, as part of the case of Brest resident Mrs. Inha Abramava.

22.06.2012 Committee to Protect Journalists: Freedom to Poczobut!

New York, June 21, 2012-Authorities in Belarus must drop the charges against a prominent journalist arrested today for libel against the president, and immediately release him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Andrzej Poczobut has been targeted in the past for his critical writing, CPJ research shows.

22.06.2012 Vitsebsk opposition activist demands prosecution of local executive officials

Yan Dziarzhautsau, Vitsebsk activist of the Conservative Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front”, has lodged a complaint with the city’s executive committee, demanding to prosecute local officials who have repeatedly ignored the activist’s appeals.

22.06.2012 Vinahradau and Artsybashau to be tried

It's unknown yet what charges were brought against the activists.

22.06.2012 Polish Newspaper Reporter Held In Belarus

The correspondent of a Polish newspaper has reportedly been detained by police in Belarus less than a year after serving jail time for slandering President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

21.06.2012 Presentation of “Belarus in Focus: through the eyes of foreign journalists”

The presentation took place in PEN-Center in Minsk on June 20. The book is a collection of winning articles from an international competition (www.focus.solidarityby.eu) held jointly with the Press Club Polska in October 2011, according to the employee of the Informational bureau Solidarity with Belarus (Warsaw) Natallia Belikava.

21.06.2012 Tell the Truth activist detained in Minsk

Aliaksandr Artsybashau, activist of the Tell the Truth civil campaign, has been reportedly detained by Minsk police this afternoon, www.zapraudu.info reports.

21.06.2012 Election observers: “We will keep our eyes open throughout the election”

The Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign has launched a nation-wide election observation campaign ahead of the September parliamentary election at a press-conference held in Viasna’s office today.

21.06.2012 Minsk prosecutor’s office warns Platforma leader Andrei Bandarenka

Andrei Bandarenka, head of the Platforma human rights NGO that specializes in the protection of the rights of prisoners, has received an official warning from Minsk City Prosecutor’s Office on allegations of discrediting Belarus.

21.06.2012 KGB puts pressure on supporters of change of the Electoral Code

KGB and ideologists are exercising pressure on the members of the initiative group created in order to change the Election Code.

21.06.2012 UN Special Rapporteur trying to get to Belarus

Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya, UN special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, soon intends to repeat her address to the Belarusian authorities in attempt to visit the country.

21.06.2012 Police try to break into apartment of Fyodar Mirzayanau's mother

The incident happened in the evening on June 20.

20.06.2012 Lukashenka fires four judges who convicted opposition activists

Alyaksandr Lukashenka, by his June 18 presidential edict, dismissed 14 court judges, including four judges notorious for imposing prison and jail sentences on opposition activists.