The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 30 Oct 2013

30.10.2013 Homel Regional Court orders district court to consider complaint by local activist

The Civil Division of the Homel Regional Court considered yesterday an appeal filed by a civil society activist from the town of Kalinkavichy, Tamara Zaitsava.

30.10.2013 Salihorsk human rights defenders urge local officials to report on accessibility program

Representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee in Salihorsk sent a letter to local authorities urging them to provide a report on the implementation of the program for the development of a barrier-free environment in the town’s educational institutions.

30.10.2013 Speech by FIDH President Karim Lahidji at Third Belarusian Human Rights Forum

The Third Forum of Belarusian human rights defenders that took place on 26-27 October in Vilnius and was opened by a welcome speech of the President of the FIDH, Karim Lahidji. Here is the full text of his speech.

30.10.2013 Restrictions on Dzmitry Miadvedz’s freedom expire today

Dzmitry Miadvedz, one of the defendants of the “rioting” case of 2010, is not involved in politics, nor is he related to political parties and movements, palitviazni.info reports.

30.10.2013 EU publishes updated blacklist of Belarusian individuals, entities

The Council of the European Union has published the names of Belarusian citizens and economic entities whose names were included in the EU's blacklist and removed from it on October 29, BelaPAN said.

30.10.2013 "Viasna": 10 years without registration

Human rights defender Uladzimir Labkovich remembers well October 28, 2003, when the Supreme Court put an end to the registration of "Viasna". How is it that the decision put an end to the activities of the human rights defenders?

30.10.2013 Court regards “standing along the sidewalk facing the street with red flowers in hands..." as picket

Judge Kamisarau of Minsk City Court dismissed a complaint filed by Siarhei Yaumenau against the decision in an administrative case which has already entered into force.

30.10.2013 Journalists detained in Minsk again

Independent journalists Alyaksandr Barazenka and Maria Artsybashava were detained on Tuesday near the Pershamaiskaya metro station in Minsk.

30.10.2013 Mahiliou court fines local pro-dem leader Yury Novikau

On October 29, Judge Alena Volkava of Leninski District Court of Mahiliou fined the chairman of the Mahiliou regional coalition of democratic forces Yury Novikau 5,850,000 rubles for distributing leaflets and collecting signatures against a Russian airbase in the territory of Belarus.

30.10.2013 Miklos Haraszti’s report on Belarus presented and discussed at the UN General Assembly in New York

On October 28, the UN General Assembly in New York hosted a presentation and interactive dialogue of national delegations on the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Miklos Haraszti.