The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 22 Aug 2013

22.08.2013 Court orders compulsory treatment of Ihar Pastnou

According to the Law on the provision of mental health care, the duty of doctors is to explain to the patient his rights, including the right to legal and judicial assistance. However, the court of Vitsebsk district, which ruled yesterday to apply compulsory treatment to former doctor Ihar Pastnou, did not bring him to the courtroom, nor was the trial attended by a lawyer.

22.08.2013 National Bolshevik activists fined over protests against military conscription

The Court of Minsk’s Tsentralny district resumed hearing the charges brought against activists of the National Bolshevik movement, Yauhen Kontush and Dzmitry Paliyenka, under Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (violation of the order of organizing and holding mass events). On August 8, the Court sent their administrative cases back for revision.

22.08.2013 Mikalai Statkevich starts getting letters and greetings

Political prisoner and former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich finally started receiving birthday greetings and other letters, says the politician's wife Maryna Adamovich. Previously, the messages were almost completely blocked by the administration of the Mahiliou prison No. 4, Radio Racyja reports.

22.08.2013 Political prisoner Prakapenka can receive food parcels

The administration of penal colony No. 15 in Mahiliou lifted a ban on food parcels for Artsiom Prakapenka, says his father Anatol Prakapenka, as quoted by the Nasha Niva newspaper.

22.08.2013 Appeals by Viasna human rights defenders to be considered on 27 and 31 August

Appeals of human rights defenders representing the Human Rights Center "Viasna", Tatsiana Reviaka and Uladzimir Labkovich, against the verdict of the Savetski District Court of Minsk are expected to be considered by the Minsk City Court on 27 August and 31 August, respectively. The human rights defenders are appealing a fine of 3 million rubles each for alleged violating the Code on Administrative Offences (Art. 23.34 – “illegal picketing”).

22.08.2013 Vitsebsk court conceals decision on compulsory treatment of Ihar Pastnou

The court of Vitsebsk district considered yesterday the possibility of forced psychiatric treatment of local doctor Ihar Pastnou, who publicly expressed his critical perception of health care in the region. As a result, the court's findings remain a mystery, but Ihar Pastnou still cannot be contacted. There is reason to believe that he has not been released from mental hospital.

22.08.2013 Supreme Court considers Homel courts incompetent

For nearly a year, from August 2012 to the present day, Mazyr human rights defender Uladzimir Tseliapun was seeking justice in the courts of Homel region to appeal a decision of Mazyr District Executive Committee "On Mass Events", arguing that the decision is not consistent with the law and violates the rights of citizens, the implementation of which are guaranteed by the Constitution.

22.08.2013 Criminal proceedings against Ales Mikhalevich will not stop until he returns to the country?

The Investigators gave a negative reply to the request of Ales Mikhalevich, in which the former presidential candidate and the KGB detention center inmate, asks for redemption of the criminal proceedings initiated against him. Mikhalevich to this day is a suspect in the investigation of the organization of “mass riots” in Minsk, December 19, 2010, as the government called a number of organized protests against rigged presidential election.