The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for August 2012

31.08.2012 Mazyr prosecuting authorities back mass events restrictions

Mazyr human rights defender Uladizmir Tseliapun has received a reply from the district’s Prosecutor’s Office to his statement challenging the legality of mass events restrictions imposed in decision No. 1202 of October 12, 2011 by the district executive authorities.

31.08.2012 Vitsebsk police search candidate’s car, seize election papers

Vitsebsk police searched the car of Aliaksei Haurutsikau, candidate running in constituency No. 18, seizing printed materials and other documents belonging to the activist and another pro-democratic candidate Alena Famina.

31.08.2012 Mother of executed terrorist keeps demanding to regain son’s prison notes

Mrs. Liubou Kavaliova, mother of Uladzislau Kavaliou executed for plotting a blast in Minsk metro in April 2011, keeps demanding to return her son’s prison notes.

31.08.2012 FIDH and “Viasna” condemn sentence imposed on Zmitser Dashkevich

FIDH and Viasna urge the Belarusian authorities to put an end to any kind of harassment against Mr. Dashkevich and to immediately and unconditionally release him, as well as all political prisoners in Belarus.

31.08.2012 Crackdown on social networks: interrogations, searches, arrests

Pavel Yeutsikhiyeu, moderator of an online community detained by Minsk police yesterday, has stood trial on disorderly conduct charges and sentenced to five days of arrest.

31.08.2012 Baranavichy activist appeals denial of registration in Supreme Court

Baranavichy pro-democratic activist Ryhor Hryk, who was denied registration as a candidate by constituency election commission No. 6, is appealing the decision at the Supreme Court.

30.08.2012 CEC turns down Milinkevich’s complaint over registration denial

The Central Election Commission has dismissed today the complaints lodged by opposition politicians Aliaksandr Milinkevich, Artur Finkevich and Mikhail Pashkevich, who were denied registration as candidates on 23 August.

30.08.2012 Baranavichy police to probe election abuse allegations

On 29 August, Baranavichy human rights defender Siarhei Housha received a reply from the Central Election Commission signed by Lidziya Yarmoshyna, saying that his appeal against alleged violations by the town’s election commission would be investigated by police.

30.08.2012 Babruisk trade union activist summoned to KGB

Halina Smirnova, Babruisk leader of the Radio-Electronic Industry independent trade union, has been summoned to local KGB department. The reasons for the expected interrogation are yet unknown.

30.08.2012 Minsk police detain moderators of social networks’ communities

Minsk police have detained a number of moderators of online opposition communities, including Raman Pratasevich, Andrei Tkachou, Siarhei Biaspaly and Pavel Yeutsikheyeu.

30.08.2012 International Day of the Disappeared marked today

International Day of the Disappeared is marked by the world community on August 30. The date appeared in the United Nations’ calendar in 2011.

30.08.2012 Baranavichy TV bans pro-dem candidate’s election address

The “Brest” regional state-owned TV channel has taken off the air the election address of Baranavichy candidate Anzhalika Kambalava (United Civil Party), who is running for Parliament in constituency No. 5.

30.08.2012 UCP Hrodna activists harassed by KGB over election boycott campaign

Dzmitry Audzeichyk and Yauehn Shviadzko, activists of the United Civil Party’s Hrodna office, have been reportedly harassed by local KGB agents.

30.08.2012 CEC denies registration to UCP Barysau nominee

The Central Election Commission has denied registration to potential candidate nominated by the United Civil Party’s Barysau office Mikhail Vasilieu.

29.08.2012 Investigation into Poczobut's case extended until September 21

Investigation into the case of Hrodna-based journalist Andrzej Poczobut, a correspondent for Gazeta Wyborcza, has been extended until September 21 “to carry out additional investigative procedures”.