The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for August 2013

28.08.2013 Medics started using punitive psychiatry towards Ihar Pastnou

The court of psychiatric treatment towards the former medic was sanctioned by the Vitsebsk District Court on 21 August. Though the court verdict hasn't come into force, the staff of the Vitsebsk psychiatric hospital have already started its implementation.

28.08.2013 Court dismisses Viktar Syrytsa's claim to the state-owned newspaper “Nash Krai”

On 27 August the Baranavichy City and District Court turned down the appeal of the social activist Viktar Syrytsa against the newspaper.

28.08.2013 Political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich got released from jail

The leader of the "Young Front" Zmitser Dashkevich was released from Hrodna prison today, on 28 August. It happened at half past six in the morning. The prisoner of conscience was met by dozens of people – friends, journalists and his wife – Anastasiya Dashkevich.

27.08.2013 Minsk City Court rejects appeal by Tatsiana Reviaka

The Minsk City Court considered today an appeal by human rights defender Tatsiana Reviaka lodged to contest a three million rubles fine handed down on her on August 6. As a result, Judge Aliaksei Bychko upheld the decision of Savetski District Court, dismissing the complaint.

27.08.2013 Ales Bialiatski shortlisted for Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize

The imprisoned leader of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski has been shortlisted for the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, along with two more nominees: the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association and the Rights Defense Network (China).

27.08.2013 Vitsebsk opposition activists campaign to protest forced psychiatric treatment of doctor Pastnou

Representatives of Vitsebsk pro-democratic forces have launched a campaign to address the Prosecutor of Vitsebsk region with an open letter concerning the decision of the District Court to apply forced psychiatric treatment towards doctor Ihar Pastnou.

27.08.2013 Vitsebsk BPF leader petitions Parliament over plans to outlaw election boycott campaigning

Leanid Autukhou, Vitsebsk leader of the Belarusian Popular Front, sent a statement to the Legislation Commission of the House of Representatives.

27.08.2013 Homel police refuse to guard Fair World’s picket

The Homel regional office of the United Party of the Left "Fair World" submitted to the city executive committee applications for three pickets (on 24, 25 and 26 September) expected to report on the party's ideas and discuss the socio-economic situation in Belarus.

27.08.2013 Supreme Court rejects appeal by Andrei Haidukou

The Supreme Court considered today an appeal by Andrei Haidukou and ruled to uphold the verdict. On July 1, in a closed trial Andrei Haidukou was found guilty of attempting to establish contacts with a foreign intelligence service with no evidence of high treason.

27.08.2013 Baranavichy entrepreneur fined for organizing strike

The Court of the district and the city of Baranavichy considered yesterday the administrative charges brought against local civil society activist and entrepreneur Mikhalai Charnavus for alleged violating Part 3, Art. 23.34 (organizing and holding an unauthorized mass event) during the rallies staged by local entrepreneurs on 27 June and 1 July.

27.08.2013 Mahiliou Regional Court confirms KGB supervision for BCD activist

Mahiliou Regional Court considered yesterday the appeal lodged by an activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, Aleh Aksionau. The activist tried to appeal against a conversation he was subjected to by the KGB agents, the Committee’s supervision over the activist, as well as the anti-Constitutional character of Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code criminalizing activities on behalf of an unregistered organization.

27.08.2013 Belarus violates rights of Polish national

Such a conclusion was arrived at by the UN Human Rights Committee after considering the case of Mrs. Volha Pichuhina. The Committee found a violation of paragraph 3, Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the right to be brought promptly before a judge in order to address the issue of detention and recommended that the Belarusian government did not repeat such mistakes in the future and compensated the victim’s damages.

27.08.2013 10 days in jail for picketing against Russian military base

The Tsentralny District Court of Minsk sentenced yesterday Mikalai Hladyshau, Mahiliou activist of the United Civil Party, to 10 days of arrest for staging a protest against the deployment of Russian military bases in Belarus, Radio Liberty’s Belarus service reports.

26.08.2013 Court does not satisfy appeal lodged by Kavalyou’s relatives

Minsk City Court has refused to satisfy the appeal lodged by Uladzislau Kavalyou’s mother and sister.

26.08.2013 UN Human Rights Committee rules on violation of rights of four Brest residents

The UN Human Rights Committee recognized the violation of the rights of representatives of the democratic community of Brest concerning the freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly.