The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2013

26.03.2013 Minsk court convicts Freedom Day demonstrators

The Court of Minsk Savetski District sentenced last evening the activists detained during the Freedom Day rally on 24 March, including three Ukrainian nationals and one minor.

26.03.2013 Belarus asked Microsoft about 35 Skype accounts

The US software giant was approached by Belarus officials over users' details, says company's 2012 report.

26.03.2013 Syarhey Kavalenka Arrested Again

VITSEBSK, Belarus -- Prominent Belarusian opposition activist Syarhey Kavalenka was arrested in the eastern city of Vitsebsk on March 25.

26.03.2013 Nina Bahinskaja detained in Minsk

A civic activist Nina Bahinskaja was detained in Minsk, when she went out to Niezalezhnasci square with a white-red-whote flag.

26.03.2013 Arche's bank account unblocked

A criminal case following an audit of the magazine's finances will not be initiated. BelaPAN news agency has learnt it from acting editor of the magazine Ales Pashkevich.

25.03.2013 Prosecutor General's Office unable to impose liability on Presidential Administration officials

The Presidential Administration violates the law “On Public Appeals”, however the Prosecutor General's Office has no right to bring to justice its officials, suggest a response received from the Prosecutor General’s Office by civil society activist Aliaksei Paulouski. The official letter offers to appeal the alleged violation of the Code in the Presidential Administration, instead.

25.03.2013 Independent journalist complains of negligent officials

Mikalai Herdziy, economic observer of the Krychau-based independent newspaper “Volny Horad” (“Free Town”), submitted a statement to the Prosecutor’s Office of Mahiliou region, urging the prosecutors to verify the facts of violation of legislation of the Republic of Belarus by Krychau interdistrict department of the State Control Committee.

25.03.2013 Mahiliou Regional Court confirms picket ban

Mahiliou Regional Court considered today an appeal lodged by local leader of the United Civil Party Uladzimir Shantsau to challenge a ban on holding a picket on December 19, 2012 imposed by the city executive committee and later upheld by Leninski District Court.

25.03.2013 Young Front activist Uladzimir Yaromenak shortly detained ahead of Freedom Day rally

Police preventively detained former political prisoner Uladzimir Yaromenak ahead of yesterday’s Freedom Day demonstration. This was reported by the activist himself to the www.charter97.org website.

24.03.2013 Report on monitoring the public event on Freedom Day in Minsk (March 24, 2013)

The Human Rights Center “Viasna” notes that the Freedom Day event of March 24, 2013 was mostly peaceful. However, the police used unjustified arrests against the protesters. This is unacceptable and indicative of the fact that during the rally the authorities unduly restricted the right of citizens to peaceful assembly, while a number of demonstrators were subjected to administrative responsibility.

24.03.2013 Activists detained ahead and after Freedom Day demonstration in Minsk

Some 2,000 Belarusian pro-democratic activists and ordinary citizens took part in today’s demonstration in central Minsk to mark the 95th anniversary of the Belarusian People’s Republic, Freedom Day. The manifestation was authorized by the city executive officials, who however banned the use of flags and banners.

24.03.2013 Biarozauka activist called for “preventive conversation”

Siarhei Trafimchyk, regional coordinator of the “For Freedom” opposition movement from the town of Biarozauka, Hrodna region, is facing groundless harassment from local police. On March 22 he received a phone call from the head of Lida district police department who asked the activist to appear for an interview.

23.03.2013 Criminal Prosecution Regarding Magazine ARCHE Denied

There will be no criminal case against the magazine “ARCHE. Beginning”, told the accountant of the editorial office Alena Kazlova.

23.03.2013 Nash Dom campaign activist detained in Talachyn

Raman Zabela, activist of the Nash Dom campaign, was detained this morning in the town of Talachyn. The activist was detained at a bus stop on the way to work and taken to the police station. The official reason for the detention is traditional – Raman Zabela reportedly looked like a person suspected of a crime.

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.