The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 22 Mar 2013

22.03.2013 BCD activist faces obstacles in proving torture report

As previously reported, on 21 April 2012 Slonim police detained local activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Volha Pansevich. During arrest, she was badly beaten and then forced into a car and taken to the police station, where she was charged with two administrative violations – disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The activist was held in the detention center for three days, where police officers reportedly tortured her, beating the woman and using the so-called “lastochka” (“swallow”), the Human rights activists against torture campaign reports.

22.03.2013 Artsiom Prakapenka sent to penal cell for five days

The parents of the political prisoner visited their son in the penitentiary colony number 15 in Mahilou. Anatol Prakapenka, the father of politically imprisoned Artsiom Prakapenka (in the photograph), told that to the charter97.org web-site.

22.03.2013 Officer Siarhei Vazniak (video)

Another mini-movie from the series “Chronicles of Judgment Time” appeared on the Internet. The documentary is dedicated to one of the leaders of the party “Fair World” Siarhei Vazniak, politically repressed during the presidential campaign in 2010.

22.03.2013 Detentions in Vitsebsk

Vitsebsk police detained today activists of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Leanid Autukhou and Kastus Smolikau while distributing leaflets with an invitation to come to the rally on March 25.

22.03.2013 Homel civil activist appeals picket ban

Homel city executive committee has banned a picket applied for by the coordinator of the civil initiative “Stop drinking – Live Instead” Dzmitry Karashkou. The picket was expected to attract public attention to the problem of alcohol abuse.

22.03.2013 Adoption of an unprecedented resolution at the UN to end the financial strangulation of human rights NGOs

Today, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council gave a strong response to the increasing trend of curtailing - when not criminalizing - the activities of human rights defenders by limiting their right to access funding, especially when they come from foreign countries. The Council adopted by consensus an unprecedented resolution, introduced by Norway and co-sponsored by 62 States, affirming that “no law should criminalise or de-legitimise activities in defence of human rights on account of the origin of funding”.