The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for August 2012

03.08.2012 The head of FIDH: Belarusian human rights activists amaze by their persistence

Souhayr Belhassen supported the initiative of the International Day of Solidarity with the civil society in Belarus.

03.08.2012 Still behind bars: The plight of long-term prisoners in Belarus

One year ago on 4 August, prominent human rights defender Ales Bialiatski was arrested in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. He was sentenced to four and a half years for tax evasion charges. Amnesty International considers that he has been sentenced for carrying out his human rights activities and has declared him a prisoner of conscience.

02.08.2012 Court turns down appeal of human rights defender Aleh Hulak

The head of the human rights organization "Belarusian Helsinki Committee" Aleh Hulak insisted that the court recognized as illegal the actions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice as a result of which he was prohibited to leave the country. Representatives of the ministries didn’t recognize the complaint and asked the court not to grant it.

02.08.2012 Belarusian Association of Journalists sends urgent appeal to Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression concerning Anton Surapin’s case

The letter signed by the Deputy Chairperson of BAJ Andrei Bastunets has been sent to the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Mr. Frank La Rue on 2 August.

02.08.2012 Brest: Ihar Maslouski appeals hidden agitation for pro-governmental candidate

Ihar Maslouski, the leader of the Brest social-democrats running for the Parliament at Brest-Central election constituency #2, filed an appeal to the Brest-Central constituency election commission concerning election violations admitted by his rival, pro-governmental pretender Valiantsin Milasheuski, chief medic of the city ambulance hospital.

02.08.2012 International Day of Solidarity with Civil Society of Belarus to be marked in many countries on 4 August

The International Day of Solidarity with the Civil Society of Belarus will be marked for the first time on 4 August 2012. It was announced by a wide coalition of NGOs from different country which are members of the Committee on International Control over the Human Rights Situation in Belarus. A year ago, on 4 August 2011, the leading Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, the head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 4.5 years of imprisonment.

02.08.2012 Leanid Autukhou applies to Central Election Commission

The head of the Haradok district branch of the Belarusian Popular Front Leanid Autukhou who collects signatures for his nomination in Vitsebsk-village constituency #21, filed an appeal to the Central Election Commission against the refusal of the constituency commission to show him the list of members of the electoral team of prospective candidate Uladzimir Shytsko, head of the cadet college.

02.08.2012 Citizens propose appointing Ryhor Vasilevich head of the Supreme Court

33 representatives of the Civil initiative against injustice at courts and procuracies addressed Aliaksandr Lukashenka with the proposal to appoint Ryhor Vasilevich the head of the Supreme Court instead of Valiantsin Sukala.

02.08.2012 Baranavichy: doorkeepers collect signatures for pro-governmental candidate during working hours

Artsiom Babei, a member of the electoral team of the prospective candidate at Baranavichy-Eastern election constituency #6 Ryhor Hryk, collected signatures at a hostel in Kirau Street 73/2. He was joined by Ryhor Hryk who decided to get registered at the book of visitors at the hostel's front desk. However, suddenly he saw there a list with signatures in support of his rival, pro-governmental candidate Aliaksandr Stsiatsko.

02.08.2012 Members of Homel Region Council run for Parliament

Having partially or fully served their terms at the regional council, Homel officials of different levels try to get to the Parliament.

02.08.2012 Nomination of communists: 40 from “Fair World” and 30 – from Communist Party of Belarus

The oppositional leftist party “Fair World” nominated 40 people as prospective candidates for the Parliament.

02.08.2012 Mahiliou: collector of signatures not let in dormitory

The deputy head on ideology of the “Zenit” plant Mikalai Mikhalenia ordered not to let collectors of signatures in support of prospective candidates for Parliament in the plant dormitories.

02.08.2012 Missing deputy head of “Platform” is kept in detention facility

Alena Krasouskaya-Kaspiarovich, the deputy head of the educational and informational institution “Platform”, who had been missing since the evening of 31 July, is kept in the delinquents' isolation center in Akrestsin Street in Minsk.

02.08.2012 Doesn't secretary of Central Election Commission know about nomination of “Belaya Rus” candidates?

The secretary of the Central Election Commission Mikalai Lazavik expressed his dissatisfaction about the report of the OSCE ODIHR.

02.08.2012 Liubou Kavaliova still trying to get her son's notes returned

The mother of executed Uladzislau Kavaliou wants KGB chief Vadzim Zaitsau to send a written reply to her demand to return her son's notes. Liubou Kavaliova told this BelaPAN news agency.