The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 16 Dec 2013

16.12.2013 Journalists Detained “To Avoid Mass Disorders”

The Investigative Committee of Belarus held an inquiry into the fact of detention of 10 journalists at the railway station in Minsk and denied starting criminal proceedings, claiming that the police committed no violations.

16.12.2013 Supreme Court rejects appeal of Brest independent journalist

Press photographer Milana Kharytonava tried to challenge the decision of the court of Brest’s Maskouski district, which turned down her lawsuit for the protection of honor, dignity and business reputation lodged against reporter of a local government-run weekly "Brestskiy Vestnik" Uladzimir Minevich. The latter posted offensive comments against the independent photojournalist on one of the Internet portals.

16.12.2013 Board of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" once again stresses the legitimacy of the organization's activities in Belarus

Deputy Chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Valiantsin Stefanovich received a reply to his appeal to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Belarus, which concerned the introduction of the website spring96.org in the list of resources with restricted access.

16.12.2013 Brest police detain and send to mental hospital guy who staged performance in front of Regional Executive Committee building

Ales Charkashyn was dressed as a "prophet", his hands were tied with chains and doused with red paint. It symbolized the blood of Belarusians. During the performance, the activist urged the authorities to repent for their sins against the people.

16.12.2013 Ivan Shyla summoned to court

Ivan Shyla, activist of the Young Front movement, was summoned to the Court of Salihorsk district on December 19. This was reported to local human rights defenders by the activist’s parents. The reason is the alleged debt for penalties awarded to him when he was sixteen. Ivan himself is currently studying in Poland.

16.12.2013 Vitsebsk court dismisses libel case against Aliaksandr Kirylau

Before it happened, the defendant was taken to mental hospital and a police officer “persuaded him not to complain” about the doctors of Salihorsk speleotherapy center.

16.12.2013 General Prosecutor's Office explains why spring96.org was blacklisted

Deputy Chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Valiantsin Stefanovich received a reply to his appeal to the Prosecutor General’s Office, which concerned the introduction of the website www.spring96.org in the list of restricted access resources.

16.12.2013 Mahiliou prison administration says destruction of letters is legitimate

An activist of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party “Hramada”, Leanid Haravy, received a response from head of the Mahiliou-based prison. He demanded an explanation why his letter did not reach political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich.

16.12.2013 Salihorsk human rights defenders analyze gender equality among executive officials

Salihorsk activists of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee analyzed the composition of local district executive committee for its compliance with the principle of gender equality and voiced their comments and suggestions.

16.12.2013 Bykhau district still lacks venues for public events

Chairman of the Bykhau regional branch of the BPF Party, writer Siarhei Antonau, received on December 14 a response to his appeal sent to the district executive committee’s chairman Dzmitry Kaleyeu to request to select places for staging pickets in the town.

16.12.2013 Brest human rights defender proposes to eliminate contradictions of legal acts

Uladzimir Vialichkin, a human rights activist from the city of Brest, visited deputy chairman of the city executive committee, Henadz Barysiuk, and filed a statement to propose to eliminate the contradictions that exist in the authorities’ decision on the procedures for holding public events, as its requirement to enter into an agreement with the police is contrary to a decree of the Council of Ministers.