The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for June 2012

18.06.2012 Woman beaten by police insists on review of her appeal

Minsk resident Sviatlana Viarheichyk, who was beaten by the police in a “silent protest” in summer 2011, says her complaint has not been properly considered by Minsk Kastrychnitski District Prosecutor’s Office.

18.06.2012 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in May 2012

May did not bring any positive changes in the human rights situation in general and the situation of political prisoners in particular. On 24 May, while listening to a report by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Siarhei Martynau, Aliaksandr Lukashenka explicitly stated he had no intention to change his position on political prisoners: "Lately, I have been hearing more and more statements that European diplomats here are waiting for some kind of amnesty, starting talks about political prisoners, and so on. I just want to publicly say that I will not return to this subject (...) We are waiting for concrete steps from the West, the European Union. The ball is on their side. It is my firm conviction. That’s why I am not going to wait for this play on old instruments by old notes again."

18.06.2012 Orsha police chiefs justify seizure of local independent newsletter

The confiscation of a number of copies of the Nash Dom independent newsletter on 20 May was legal, says a reply from Orsha Department of Internal Affairs.

18.06.2012 Belarusian media prudent over gay issues

Belarusian mass media remain too conservative in covering LGBT-related issues, says a recent report by an information group that has conducted a monitoring of the country’s media over the past year.

18.06.2012 Investigative Committee examining complaint by wife of imprisoned opposition activist Syarhey Kavalenka

A Vitsyebsk district department of the Investigative Committee is examining a complaint by Syarhey Kavalenka’s wife about a video of the imprisoned opposition activist that has been posted on the Internet by prison officers.

18.06.2012 Assembly of NGOs urges authorities to resume dialogue with civil society

The Assembly of Non-governmental Organizations, at its congress in Minsk on June 16, adopted a resolution calling on the Belarusian authorities to resume their dialogue with civil society and end its crackdown on NGOs.

17.06.2012 Prominent human rights defender Barys Zvozskau dies

Barys Zvozskau, a famous Belarusian human rights defender, died last night at the age of 63 after a prolonged disease.

15.06.2012 Hrodna: corporate solidarity at courts

The panel of judges of the Hrodna Region Court left in force the verdict of the Hrodna Leninski District Court to Uladzimir Fianenka, fined 2 million rubles for refusing from dactylography. The consideration of the appeal by the panel of judges lasted only for about 20 minutes.

15.06.2012 Bialiatski received third reprimand

The administration made Ales Bialiatski a “malignant violator”, which raises doubts about the use of 3 July amnesty towards him.

15.06.2012 Aliaksandr Malchanau’s appeal to be considered on 26 June

The cassation appeal of opposition activist Aliaksandr Malchanau will be considered by the Minsk Region Court on 26 June. The activist had been convicted for participation in the protest action of 19 December 2010, but then was granted parole by a presidential decree.

15.06.2012 Court turns down ecologists’ appeal against “Peking” hotel

The Frunzenski District Court of Minsk rejected the lawsuit of the Belarusian ecologists against the “Hotel “Peking-Minsk” Ltd.

15.06.2012 Brest: Uladzimir Vialiachkin continues appealing against picket ban

Human rights defender Uladzimir Vialichkin applied to the head of the Brest Region Court with the request to issue a protest against the verdicts on his civil case.

14.06.2012 Hrodna: official openly states his indifference

On 14 June there the head of the department of control over executive authorities and coordinative activities of control bodies of the Hrodna Regional State Control Committee Ivan Kashko accepted citizens at the Hrodna City Executive Committee.

14.06.2012 Malaryta police and officials pay a special attitude to human rights defender Malei

It was proved during a prom which was held at the central square of the town of Malaryta.

14.06.2012 “Granite” administration continues ignoring independent trade union

According to the website Media-Palesse, the accountant’s office of the “Granite” plant doesn’t exact member fees from wages of the workers who are members of the trade union.