The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 15 Apr 2013

15.04.2013 Henik Loika's victory

After the protest action held by architect Henik Loika near Minsk gymnasium #4, the educational establishment was prescribed to return to the Belarusian language of instruction.

15.04.2013 Relatives receive no letters from Ihar Alinevich after publication of his book

In March the book by the Belarusian political prisoner Ihar Alinevich "Going to Magadan" ("Yedu v Magadan") was published in Russia.

15.04.2013 Ritual burial of car details in Mahiliou

On 14 April in Mahiliou car drivers expressed their protest against the unsatisfactory state of the roads by burying the details which had gone out of order on these roads, and laid down flowers on the improvised grave.

15.04.2013 Ilona Tkachova still not returned her laptop

Zhlobin member of the "Fair World" Ilona Tkachova still hasn't been returned her laptop and photo camera which have been confiscated at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.

15.04.2013 Vitsebsk activists applied for authorization of tree pickets dated to anniversary of Chernobyl accident

Yan Dziarzhautsau, a member of the Conservative-Christian Party Belarusian Popular Front, applied to Kastrychnitski District Executive Committee with an application for the authorization of a picket on 26 April. Earlier, two similar applications were filed by the head of Vitsebsk regional branch of the Belarusian Popular Front Leanid Autukhou and the head of the regional branch of the "For Freedom" movement Khrystafor Zhaliapau.

15.04.2013 Mikalai Autukhovich says he may sue investigator Alikhver

The political prisoner confirmed that the person whose photos were published in the press and social networks was the investigator who had brought the first criminal case against him.

15.04.2013 Lidziya Yarmoshyna ignores proposal of Vitsebsk human rights defender

Human rights defender Leanid Svetsik applied to the Central Election Commission with the proposal to introduce amendments to the Electoral Code. In particular, he asked to supply Article 11 of the Electoral Code with the notion of the legal status of election commissions. In her answer the CEC head informed him that his application wouldn't be considered on its merits.

15.04.2013 Trial of Piotr Ivanov postponed to 17 April

The trial of Vitsebsk citizen Piotr Ivanov, detained at the building of the regional road police on 12 April, started the same day. Mr. Ivanov solicited for the admission of his counsel to the trial. Andrei Preis, Judge of Pershamaiski Distrit Court of Vitsebsk, granted the petition. Piotr Ivanov was given time until 11.00 a.m. on 17 April in order to conclude a service agreement with a counsel, and was set free until then.

15.04.2013 Salihorsk officials misinform people about existence of Belarusian-language kindergarten

The head of Salihorsk District Council, Lidziya Klishevich, and the head of Salihorsk District Executive Committee, Aliaksandr Rymasheuski, mislead the public.

15.04.2013 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in March 2013

March was marked by the activation of the diplomatic relations between the EU countries and the Belarusian authorities, which was an important aspect for understanding the perspectives of the development of the situation of human rights, taking into consideration the strong dependence of this sphere on the external policy factor. Despite the voiced statements of the EU officials on the results of the contacts with the Belarusian side, there were no changes in the main principal issue – the release of political prisoners.