The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for September 2013

30.09.2013 Ales Bialiatski receives Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize

Ales Bialiatski, President of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, has been awarded the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize. The winner’s name was announced today in Strasbourg by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Jean-Claude Mignon. The award was received by the human rights defender’s wife Natallia Pinchuk, who was present at the ceremony.

30.09.2013 Participants of running festival “Challenge Cup” stand trial in Minsk

Tsentralny District Court of Minsk considered today the administrative charges brought against participants of a running festival called “Challenge Cup” held on September 28.

30.09.2013 Death penalty music project: on crucifixion and gas chambers

A joint music project entitled Aposhni Zolak (“The Last Dawn”) is expected to be presented online in early October. Its participants advocate for an end to the practice of the death penalty in Belarus.

30.09.2013 Joint Press Release by FIDH and Viasna: Ales Bialiatski receives highly symbolic Václav Havel Human Rights Prize

As the Council of Europe just announced the 2013 laureate of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, FIDH and HRC Viasna express their utmost support to its recipient Ales Bialiatski, President of Viasna Human Rights Center and Vice President of FIDH. Prominent human rights defender in Belarus, Ales Bialiatski was sentenced to 4 and a half years of detention in severe regime in August 2011 for his human rights activities.

30.09.2013 Police officer does not want to testify in Uladzimir Labkovich’s case

A police officer who detained human rights defenders Uladzimir Labkovich and Tatsiana Reviaka during an action of solidarity with political prisoner Ales Bialiatski held in Minsk once again failed to appear at the court hearing.

30.09.2013 MPs violate Law “On Public Appeals”

On August 9, 2013, Salihorsk activist of the United Civil Party Viktar Malochka sent to the House of Representatives an address to the deputies from Salihorsk constituencies, Yauhen Abalenski and Taisia Danilevich. The petitions were received on August 12, as evidenced by signatures on the message of mail delivery. Despite the period of one month allocated by the law for processing petitions, Viktar Malochka has not yet received a response from the deputies.

30.09.2013 Homel: new mass events rules – old problems for organizers

In early September, a new decision of Homel city executive committee on mass events came into force. The authorities say that it is meant to “expand the list of places for public events, as well as to improve the interaction between the organizers of public events and local authorities.” However, although the number of locations has increased (two sites instead of one), they are located in places that will make potential participants in the pickets or rallies hire a vehicle to travel to the locations.

30.09.2013 Young opposition activist Pavel Vinahradaw arrested by police over «pig protest»

Prominent young opposition activist Pavel Vinahradaw was arrested by police near his home in Minsk on Friday and is expected to be charged for displaying pig heads with signs attached to them in downtown Yakub Kolas Square earlier in the day, BelaPAN said.

27.09.2013 Zmena activist Pavel Vinahradau detained in Minsk

Pavel Vinahradau, activist of the Zmena youth opposition movement, was detained by police this morning, the Nasha Niva newspaper reports, quoting the activist’s wife Sviatlana, who wrote about this in her Facebook account. “30-40 minutes ago (around 12:00) Pavel Vinahradau was detained near his house by employees of Maskouski district police department of Minsk,” she wrote.

27.09.2013 Mother of inmate who died in Svetlahorsk detention center challenges results of forensic examination

After receiving the results of an additional forensic examination, requested by Mrs. Valiantsina Akulich, the mother of Aliaksandr Akulich, who died while serving an arrest in the detention center in Svetlahorsk last May, the question of whether there was a direct causal link between the death of her son and the untimely provided medical aid remains unanswered.

27.09.2013 Prison paramedic accused of Ihar Ptichkin's death

A criminal case was initiated against a paramedic of the detention facility No. 1.

27.09.2013 Independent trade union activist appeals dismissal to Brest Regional Court

Leanid Dubanosau, activist of the independent trade union, is appealing the decision of the district court of Luninets, which upheld his dismissal from the company "Granit" and found no evidence of discrimination based on trade union affiliation.

26.09.2013 Veterans of Soviet War in Afghanistan ask house arrest for Autukhovich

Veterans of the Soviet War in Afghanistan think the political prisoner should have a softer punishment.

26.09.2013 Mikalai Autukhovich recovers after attempted suicide

Information that political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich, who is serving a prison sentence in Hrodna prison No. 1, inflicted serious injury upon himself has been completely confirmed. According to his lawyer, Autukhovich cut his abdomen with a razor blade, but is now doing well.

26.09.2013 Slonim authorities suppress protests by holding their own events

On September 9, Ales Masiuk, member of the Slonim office of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, submitted to the local executive committee a bid asking for permission to stage on September 29 a rally in the town park to protest against the harassment of the Hazeta Slonimskaya independent weekly, as well as to demand free exercise of the right to subscribe to the independent newspaper in the offices of the state-owned subscription system.