The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for October 2013

29.10.2013 EU to extend sanctions against Lukashenka regim

The statement was made by head of the EU delegation to Belarus Maira Mora.

29.10.2013 Marathon in memory of Stalin repression victims starts with detentions

Today, on the Day of Remembrance of the victims of totalitarian repression, police detained participants of a mourning marathon and journalists, Radio Liberty’s Belarus service reports.

29.10.2013 Ales Bialiatski may receive Lithuanian Freedom Prize

Lithuanian civil society activists are discussing the possibility of awarding the Belarusian political prisoner, human rights defender Ales Bialiatski the Freedom Prize. This is reported by the Lithuanian media, in particular delfi.lt.

28.10.2013 Bialynichy activists call for abolition of the death penalty

Civil society and political activists from the town of Bialynichy, Mahiliou region, urged local residents to join the campaign against the death penalty in Belarus. Local activists of the BPF party and the "Tell the Truth" campaign distributed postcards "We are against the Death Penalty", which suggest that Belarus should abandon the death penalty.

28.10.2013 Political prisoner Dziadok thrown into punishment cell two times in autumn

Mikalai Dziadok was thrown into a punishment cell in September and October.

28.10.2013 Belarusian human rights defenders urge UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish office in Minsk

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) should establish a mission in Belarus, the delegates to the Third Belarusian Human Rights Forum, which took place in Vilnius on Saturday and Sunday, say in a statement.

28.10.2013 50 pickets banned in Vitsebsk since 2011

Aliaksei Haurutsikau and Khrystafor Zhaliapau received another ban on a picket from Vitsebsk’s Pershamaiski district administration. The picket of solidarity with political prisoners was scheduled for October 29.

28.10.2013 Many Belarusians have stereotypes about human rights defenders, survey suggests

Many Belarusians have negative stereotypes about human rights defenders as a result of government propaganda, Aleh Hulak, head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, said at the Third Belarusian Human Rights Forum in Vilnius on October 26.

28.10.2013 Natallia Pinchuk: No concessions to regime

Ales Bialiatski's wife called on the West to be consistent in relation to Belarus.

28.10.2013 Results of the Third Belarusian Human Rights Forum. Valiantsin Stefanovich’s speech at the event.

In his speech at the Forum on October 26, deputy head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" spoke about the human rights developments in Belarus since the previous Forum in 2010.

27.10.2013 Over 110 activists taking part in Third Belarusian Human Rights Forum

More than 110 activists representing 25 organizations gathered in Vilnius for the Third Belarusian Human Rights Forum that opened on October 26.

25.10.2013 Mahiliou KGB avenges blogger

Dzmitry Yarmolenka has been already kicked out of the Kuliashou Mahiliou State University, and now they are trying to put pressure on him at work.

25.10.2013 Homel human rights defender Anatol Paplauny loses job

Homel human rights defender Anatol Paplauny will be fired from work “in connection with the termination of the employment contract,” which was signed by the employee a year ago. He has worked as a toolmaker at a private enterprise called “Vipra” for five years, and he has not received any penalties during the period, which is noted in the statement of resignation. “Thank you for your diligent work,” writes the company’s manager Ihar Shchyhelski.

25.10.2013 Uladzimir Yaromenak’s appeal to be heard on November 12

The appeal will be considered in the Minsk City Court. If the sentence remains unchanged, Yaromenak will have to serve a 3-month custody.

25.10.2013 Dismissed activist of Razam movement summoned to police station

Illia Dabratvor, activist of the Razam solidarity movement, has been summoned to Frunzenski district police department of Minsk, Radio Liberty’s Belarus service reports.