The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for January 2014

31.01.2014 BATE fans terrorized by police and KGB over support for Ukrainians

The law enforcement authorities of Barysau have launched a campaign of hunting for football fans, after several photos were posted online to support Ukraine’s pro-EU protesters, the website barysau.by reports.

31.01.2014 Mazyr: observer not allowed to attend formation of precinct commissions

Officials of Mazyr district executive committee did not allow local human rights defender Uladzimir Tseliapun to attend a meeting convened to form the precinct election commissions for the upcoming local elections, despite having been delegated by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee.

31.01.2014 Homel court turns down human rights defender’s claim against employer

The Court of Homel’s Chyhunachny district turned down a claim by local human rights defender Anatol Paplauny, who was dismissed from work, despite alleged violations of labor rights found by the State Labor Inspectorate. A decision, which has not yet entered into force, was announced on January 29 by judge Vital Kozyrau.

31.01.2014 Yauhen Vaskovich visited by mother and grandmother

Yauhen Vaskovich’s mother, Rushaniya, tells little about her recent visit to the Mahiliou-based prison No. 4, where her son is serving a seven-year term.

31.01.2014 Viasna activists top media reference rating

Ales Bialiatski, the imprisoned leader of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, is one of the most cited civil society leaders, occupying the second place in the media reference rating with 259 mentions in 2013.

31.01.2014 In fighting lawlessness citizens need support from media

In fighting lawlessness citizens are in desperate need of support from mass media, says Liudmila Kuchura in an interview to the HRC "Viasna". She, together with her companions in misfortune, has been pestering state institutions for about 10 years now. Victims of lawlessness from different parts of Belarus united in their search for justice, which is lost in the corridors of the law enforcement. But the forces in the confrontation between them and the system are far from being equal.

30.01.2014 Vitsebsk Regional Court turns down Tell the Truth election complaint

On January 29, one of the leaders of the civil campaign "Tell the Truth" Siarhei Vazniak was appealing to the Vitsebsk Regional Court a refusal to register his campaign teams. As a result, the Court upheld the previous decisions of the district and regional electoral commissions.

30.01.2014 Brest police attempt to disrupt election campaigning rally

Representatives of the coalition "Talaka", which includes members of the Belarusian Left Party "Fair World", the United Civil Party, the organization "Young Belarus" and other organizations, staged today their first joint event during an election campaigning picket in Brest.

30.01.2014 Dzmitry Dashkevich fined over breach of police supervision

The Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk considered today administrative charges brought against former political prisoner Dzmitry Dashkevich. The activist was accused of violating restrictions of police supervision (Art. 24-12 of the Administrative Code). As a result, Dzmitry Dashkevich was sentenced to a fine of 1.3 mln rubles.

30.01.2014 Baranavichy activists suggest amending mass events restrictions

A number of human rights defenders and civil society activists of Baranavichy (Siarhei Housha, Viktar Syrytsa, Viachaslau Bolbat, Viktar Meziak, Mikalai Charnavus, Ryhor Hryk and Anzhalika Kambalava) sent a petition to the newly appointed Chairman of the city executive committee Yury Hramakouski to propose certain steps aimed at the democratization of local restrictions on holding mass events.

30.01.2014 UCP’s Babruisk leader summoned to police

Viktar Buzinayeu, Chairman of the United Civil Party’s Babruisk office, reported receiving a telephone invitation to a meeting to be held in the local police department.

30.01.2014 Biaroza election officials partially accept proposals by BPF member

Ihar Menshykau, an activist of the Belarusian Popular Front and member of the Biaroza-based district election commission No. 24, proposed to expand the list of places for meetings with voters. At the moment, only one place is authorized for in-door campaigning meetings, a government-owned building located on the outskirts of town.

30.01.2014 Babruisk: Election campaigning under police surveillance (photo)

The first picket to collect signatures for candidates of the campaign "Tell the Truth", Alena Miadzvedzeva, Uladzimir Shcharbatykh, Anastasia Miadzvedzeva and Aksana Samuilava, was staged on Tuesday at the entrance to the Babruisk-based market "Paunochny".

30.01.2014 Bialiatski’s nomination sent to Nobel Committee

The signatures for nominating Ales Bialiatski for Nobel Peace Prize have been sent to the Committee.

29.01.2014 “Relevant authorities” to decide on Ales Bialiatski’s book

On January 29, the Court of Ashmiany District held a preliminary hearing of human rights defender Tatsiana Reviaka’s lawsuit against local customs officials, who prohibited the importation of Ales Bialiatski’s book "Asvechanyia Belaruschunai" ("Enlightened by Belarusianness").