The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 30 May 2013

30.05.2013 House of Representatives approves bill on political parties and NGOs

Members of the House of Representatives have adopted amendments to the laws relating to activity of political parties and NGOs. Deputy Minister of Justice Hanna Badak introduced the draft law and said the amendments would simplify the process of opening political parties and NGOs and fill gaps in the legal regulation of their activity.

30.05.2013 Prosecutor’s Office warns Belsat journalist

Journalist Volha Chaichyts received a written warning from the Prosecutor’s Office of Smaliavichy district for her work with the Poland-based Belsat TV channel, press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports.

30.05.2013 State Bodies Reply to BAJ They Can Do Nothing About Arrests of Journalists

The Belarusian Association of Journalists addressed to the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Investigative Committee, asking to take actions in the cases of the recent arrests of Dzmitry Halko and Aliaksandr Yarashevich.

30.05.2013 Andrei Haidukou’s mother: Trial should be open

Reports say that it is Vitsebsk Regional Court who is expected to hear the case of Andrei Haidukou, a 23-year-old employee of the Navapolatsk-based “Naftan” refinery, who is accused of “high treason”. Volha Haidukova, his mother, hopes that the trial will open for all to learn the details of the case. After all, the espionage charges brought against the Navapolatsk guy seem absurd to many.

30.05.2013 Joint statement of BHC and Viasna on Andrei Haidukou’s case

Human rights defenders call upon the authorities to provide for an open trial, during which all persons concerned could assess the validity of the charges and the legality of the prosecution and the trial.

30.05.2013 Free Trade Union of Metal Industry Workers demands to stop discrimination and harassment of its activists

The Free Trade Union of Metal Industry Workers released a statement urging the authorities to put an end to discriminating against employees on the grounds of trade union membership, to reestablish the constitutional right to freedom of association in trade unions and to provide administrative or criminal liability of employers and other authorities for discrimination against workers. The statement was adopted by the Trade Union’s Board on May 26.