The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2013

27.03.2013 “The Queue”: Do not be indifferent! (video)

Activists of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty” created an animated film entitled “The Queue”, which touches on deep philosophical subjects: human life and the indifference of society in relation to the issue of the death penalty.

27.03.2013 Ex-Mayor of Homel complains to UN Human Rights Committee

Mrs. Sviatlana Haldadze, former chair of Homel city executive committee, submitted a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee, contesting a ban on holding a picket on August 4 last year in support of imprisoned human rights defender Ales Bialiatski. The picket was applied for by local human rights activists Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka.

27.03.2013 Chairman of Hrodna Regional Court confirms fines to human rights defenders

Hrodna human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau, Raman Yurhel and Uladzimir Khilmanovich received a response to their complaint, signed by Chairman of Hrodna Regional Court Aliaksandr Hrynkevich. The activists challenged the decision of Leninski District Court of Hrodna, who fined them 1.5 million rubles each for posting a photo on the Internet in solidarity with Ales Bialiatski and the later decision by Hrodna Regional Court on the review of the appeal.

27.03.2013 Nina Bahinskaya taken to hospital from court

A 67-year-old woman fainted at the trial over a picket on Freedom Day.

27.03.2013 Ex-political prisoner Martsaleu banned to leave Belarus for treatment

Siarhei Martsaleu requested the opportunity to go for a few months to Poland, Ukraine and Russia, Euroradio reports.

27.03.2013 Valiantsina Alinevich: Prison conditions in Belarus are a subtle genocide

The law and justice system mutilates and kills Belarusians. This was told by Mrs. Valiantsina Alinevich, mother of political prisoner Ihar Alinevich, in an interview to the charter97.org web-site. She also told what situation her son is in now.

27.03.2013 Supreme Court to consider compulsory security measures and medical treatment

The Plenum of the Supreme Court of Belarus, scheduled for March 28, will for the first time be dedicated to judicial issues related to the use of coercive measures of security and medical treatment in the criminal justice proceedings, the BelaPAN news agency reports, quoting the Supreme Court’s spokeswoman Maryia Lapo.

27.03.2013 Belarus denies accreditation to Belsat TV

Belarusian MFA says local journalists violated media laws on numerous occasions when cooperating with TV channel without accreditation.

26.03.2013 Trial against Syarhei Kavalenka postponed until Friday

The trial against Vitebsk opposition activist Syarhei Kavalenka was postponed until Friday.

26.03.2013 Homel police enumerates Roma, asking about their nicknames

The staff of Savetski district police department of Homel are reportedly visiting houses and apartments of Roma residents and checking on their personal data. The policemen ask about the distinguishing characteristics of each person, and require to include not only their names, but nicknames, as well.

26.03.2013 Human rights defender Raman Kisliak petitions Prosecutor General

Lawyer and human rights activist Raman Kisliak urges Prosecutor General to investigate the activities of police in Vitsebsk region, after Kanstantsin Smolikau and Leanid Autukhou were detained awaiting trial for more than 48 hours.

26.03.2013 Babruisk: Administration of state-owned enterprise supports only official trade union

The administration of the Babruisk-based Plant of Tractor Parts and Units (PTPU) continues to harass members of the independent trade union. Lately, the workers have been baited with financial rewards. Mikhail Kavalkou, chairman of the FTU’s local office, says that employees were promised payment up to one million rubles for leaving the independent trade union.

26.03.2013 Officials accuse Salihorsk Belarusian Language Society of unauthorized activities

An attempt by the Salihorsk town office of the Belarusian Language Society to celebrate Freedom Day was estimated as non-statutory activities by local authorities.

26.03.2013 Illustrations to Universal Declaration of Human Rights presented at opening of Belarusian Culture week in Vilnius

The illustrations were made by artist Volha Baburyna of Maladechna. The artworks in the technique of Vycinanka illustrate each article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights The event was held in Vilnius Town Hall.

26.03.2013 Freedom Day in Vitsebsk: detentions, trials, arrests, fines

BPF activist Kanstantsin Smolikau and Leanid Autukhou stood trial that lasted for 9 hours. Judge Ina Hrabouskaya pronounced her verdict at about 9 p.m. yesterday: she ruled to punish the two activists with 5 days of arrest each for alleged violation of the legislation on mass rallies. In addition, four activists of the Belarusian Christian Democracy and head of the BPF’s city office Aliaksandr Kuzniatsou were detained on their way to the court. The latter was eventually sentenced to a fine for an alleged traffic violation.