The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for September 2012

28.09.2012 Mother of executed death convict Uladzislau Kavaliou files review appeal to Supreme Court

Liubou Kavaliova demands the reversal of the death sentence according to which Uladzislau Kavaliou and Dzmitry Kanavalau were executed on charges in committing a terrorist act in the Minsk metro on 11 April 2012.

28.09.2012 Minsk: election commission confirms approves election results without considering observers’ complaints

According to observer Natallia Mankouskaya, the election commission of Hrushauskaya constituency #98 in Minsk approved the results of the local election without considering two complaints it had received from observers.

28.09.2012 Ales Bialiatski: “We are saving the honor of Belarus!” (video)

The video tells about the activities of the imprisoned head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski and his prosecution by the Belarusian authorities. On 25 September the human rights defender met his 50th birthday behind bars. This day in Warsaw his wife, Natallia Pinchuk, was passed Human Rights Defenders Award for her husband on behalf of the Secretary of the US Department of State Hillary Clinton.

28.09.2012 Prosecutor’s office of Orsha forwards appeals against election frauds to election commissions

As stated by the Orsha coordinator of the “For Free Elections” campaign Mikalai Dziamidau, he filed four appeals against irregularities in the work of election commissions.

27.09.2012 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders condemns ongoing harassment of "Viasna" Board member Tatsiana Reviaka

On September 18, 2012, Ms. Revyaka received a notification from the Tax Inspection of Minsk Pershamaiski District stating that she was “obliged to submit a declaration of income and property not later than October 3, 2012 for the period of 2004-2010, in pursuance of Article 12 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus 'On Declaration of Income and Property by Individuals'”. The Observatory strongly condemns this new act of harassment against Ms. Revyaka (see background information), which is part of a more general campaign of harassment against members of Viasna, since it seems to merely aim at impeding their legitimate human rights activities.

27.09.2012 Members of United Civil Party detained and searched on border

Anatol Liabedzka and the head of the UCP executive committee Aksana Kryshchanovich were detained and searched on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border.

27.09.2012 Leanid Sudalenka and all his family members required to submit assets and income declarations for five years

The Homel human rights defender and all members of his family will have to report about all their income for the five years. The Savetski District Tax Inspection of Homel required the appropriate documents from Leanid Sudalenka, his wife and the son who is now serving in the army.

27.09.2012 Political prisoner Dashkevich receives rape threats

“Young Front” reports about hideous facts of pressure on the political prisoner. Zmitser Dashkevich has been on hunger strike for the seventh day in a punishment cell of the Mazyr penal colony.

27.09.2012 Siarhei Kavalenka released from jail

The political prisoner was made to apply for a pardon after blackmailing, pressure and threats. Political prisoner Siarhei Kavalenka was released from a penal colony in Mahiliou in the evening of 26 September. Information about his release appeared this morning. Kavalenka was freed on the ground of an application for a presidential pardon.

27.09.2012 BCD coordinator undressed and detained for five hours on border

Dzmitry Shurkhai, an activist of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, was driving to Poland for private affairs through the Warsaw Bridge border checkpoint.

27.09.2012 Belarusian anti-nuclear activists not let to Lithuania

Two Belarusian anti-nuclear activists Mikalai Ulasevich and Tatsiana Novikava were prohibited to enter Lithuania, their visas were terminated, RFE/RL informs. The activists were travelling to attend a conference on nuclear safety in Lithuania.

26.09.2012 Congratulations to Ales Bialiatski: Human Rights Watch

Members of the New-York and Moscow offices of the organization passed photos with birthday greetings for Ales Bialiatski.

26.09.2012 Greetings for Ales Bialiatski: Amnesty International

We wish Ales a quick release and restoration of justice. We respect Ales, admire him and value his work. We wish him a strong health, patience and spiritual strength.

26.09.2012 Greetings for Ales Bialiatski: International Federation for Human Rights

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), whose vice-President Ales Bialiatski is, passes the following greetings to its colleague and member:

26.09.2012 Greetings for Ales Bialiatski: the Office of Marek Migalski

The Office of the European MP Marek Migalski sent greetings to Ales Bialiatski on 24 September, the day when a conference on Belarus was held in Warsaw: