The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for October 2012

31.10.2012 Do Not Kill All Human in Person — Zmicier Dashkievich’s Open Letter to Prosecutor General’s Office

The main law of our country — the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus in its Article No. 25 says that no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or undignified treatment or punishment, which violate personal liberty, inviolability and dignity.

31.10.2012 Brest activists launch online project to help visually impaired

The initiators of the project does not exclude the possibility that it may have a rights-based character, to support people with disabilities who face discrimination in their everyday lives.

31.10.2012 Porters of Polatsk winery seeking reinstatement in court

On November 1 Polatsk District Court is expected to continue hearing the suit brought by former employees of Polatsk winery Dzmitry Siankou and Viktar Rasliakou, who were fired for alleged "systematic violations of labor discipline."

31.10.2012 Zhlobin: trial of Fair World member still underway

A court in Zhlobin has once again adjourned the trial in the case of Yauhen Basareuski, member of the "Fair World" Left-wing party, charged under Article 424 of the Criminal Code ("abuse of power or of a position of authority"). Judge Ina Sharshniova of Zhlobin District Court put off the hearing till November 14, without giving any reason.

31.10.2012 Orsha police delay consideration of election violations

As we reported earlier, the coordinators of the campaign "For Fair Elections-2012" in Orsha registered a number of violations of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Belarus in electoral districts Nos. 26 and 27. The violations were reported to Orsha Investigative Committee by sending a notice of infringement of Article 54 of the Electoral Code, dealing with voting at the voter’s residence.

31.10.2012 Babruisk activists campaign to rename streets in honor of repressed writers

Mrs. Volha Pimanava, civil activist from the city of Babruisk, Mahiliou region, has launched a campaign to collect petitions in effort to rename the city’s streets in honor of two natives of Babruisk – writers Barys Mikulich and Siarhei Hrakhouski – who became victims of the Stalin-era political repression.

31.10.2012 Mahiliou court upholds dismissal of opposition activist

Judge Valiantsina Lapatsina of Mahiliou Leninski District Court dismissed yesterday a lawsuit brought by Mikalai Zalozny, local activist of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada), who demanded reinstatement in his job as a mechanic in one of the city’s hostels.

31.10.2012 Polish historian no allowed to Belarus

A historian and a chairman of the Belarusian association Khatka in Gdansk Dr Elena Glagovska was denied a Belarusian visa.

31.10.2012 Independent newspapers not included in Belposhta subscription catalogue

The website of Belposhta, the Belarusian postal service operator, published a subscription catalogue for the first six months of 2013. The catalogue still doesn't have a number of independent newspapers – the biggest regional newspapers Intex-press and Borisovskie Novosti or Novoe Vremya,” baj.by reports.

30.10.2012 Svislach court convicts activists

The Court of the town of Svislach, Hrodna region, sentenced Ms. Stanislava Husakova to three days of administrative arrest on charges of staging an illegal protest on 27 October, Day of Remembrance of the Heroes of the 1863 anti-Russian Uprising.

30.10.2012 Dashkevich sent to supermax prison for rest of his sentence

The court of Mozyr held the trial in the penal colony to hear political prisoner's case.

30.10.2012 Raman Vasilyeu given 5 days in custody

The court of Miory sentenced Young Front activist Raman Vasilyeu to five days in custody under article 17.1 (disorderly conduct).

30.10.2012 Victims of political repression remembered in Babruisk

Some 50 residents of the city of Babruisk came yesterday to local office of the United Civil Party to remember the victims of Soviet political repression. The event was preceded by the laying of flowers to the monument dedicated to the victims of the Stalin-era Great Purge.

30.10.2012 Mahiliou: inspection failed to prove overstated voter turnout

Mahiliou Kastrychnitski district police department has denied prosecution of election officials as requested by local observer Natallia Samakhvalava, who argued that the election commission No. 22 (constituency No. 86) considerably overstated voter turnout in the constituency.

30.10.2012 Ongoing harassment of Rahachou activist Dzianis Dashkevich

The tax inspection of the town of Rahachou, Homel region, is still harassing local opposition activist Dzianis Dashkevich, former candidate for Parliament in September 2012 elections. The tax authorities demand 600,000 rubles of taxes from the activist.