The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for January 2014

24.01.2014 Vaukavysk authorities ban picket of solidarity with Ukrainian Maidan protesters

Vital Huliak, an activist from the town of Vaukavysk, Hrodna region, was not allowed to stage a picket in solidarity with the Ukrainian Maidan protest scheduled for January 25. The application for holding a picket in the town park (officially authorized location for street events) was filed on January 9. The official response is dated January 17.

24.01.2014 Mikalai Ulasevich appeals CEC’s decision in court

Mikalai Ulasevich, an activist from the village of Varniany, Hrodna region, sent on January 23 a complaint to the Supreme Court to challenge the decision of the Central Committee. On January 21, the CEC canceled the registration of Mikalai Ulasevich two campaign teams, arguing that District Election Commission had violated paragraph 5 of Article 60 of the Electoral Code, under which a citizen can be a candidate for the local council in only one constituency. Meanwhile, Astravets District Election Commission in its decision of 17 January registered both groups.

24.01.2014 UN Human Rights Committee to consider complaint against ban on picket in support of Ales Bialiatski

A letter received on January 23 by the former chair of Homel City Executive Committee Sviatlana Haldade says the UN Human Rights Committee has registered the complaint, which she, together with Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka, filed in connection with a ban on a rally in support of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski expected to be staged on August 4, 2012.

24.01.2014 No chance to appeal formation of Brest City Electoral Commission

Human rights defenders and pro-democratic activists from Brest appealed the decision of the Presidium of the Brest City Council of Deputies and the Brest City Executive Committee of 27 December on the formation of the City Election Commission ahead of the local council elections scheduled for March 23.

24.01.2014 Riot police attack picketers near Ukrainian embassy

More than 10 people were taken to the Tsentralny district police department.

23.01.2014 Election commissions register 16,021 nomination groups

Election commissions have granted 16,021 of the 16,066 applications for the registration of nomination groups that will collect ballot-access ahead of March’s local elections, according to the central election commission.

23.01.2014 Brest City Council members ignore voters’ appeals

Activists of the civil initiative "Social Office" in Brest have not received a response from the head of the City Council of Deputies, Henadz Masko, despite the fact that the law provides for a 15-day period for answering a request.

23.01.2014 1000 days in prison: action of solidarity with Statkevich

Member of the European Parliament Marek Migalski holds an action in the Polish town of Katowice to support the Belarusian political prisoner.

23.01.2014 Critical doctor files defamation suit

Vitsebsk doctor Ihar Pastnou believes that the city’s Kastrychnitski district administration insulted him by banning a picket against police lawlessness. He says that he wants to recover from the officials three thousand Euros in damages, and if he wins in court he promises to give the money to a local orphanage.

23.01.2014 Appeal of Belarusan civil society organizations and public activists on the situation in Ukraine

These days, when the situation in Ukraine is being no longer controlled bythe opposing forces, when blood is being shed, when there are street fights in Kyiv and weapons are being used, we cannot maintain aloofness.

23.01.2014 CPJ: Journalists assaulted amid protests in Ukraine

New York, January 22, 2014-Dozens of journalists were attacked, and their equipment damaged, while reporting on anti-government protests that began over the weekend in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, according to local and international news reports. The protests come as the government approved new legislation imposing restrictions on the media.

23.01.2014 Belarusian Popular Front’s member in Lahoysk loses his job

The management of Minawta Ltd., a company in Lahoysk, Minsk district, that manufactures motor vehicle components, has refused to prolong a fixed-term employment contract with Dzmitry Shevel, a member of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF).

22.01.2014 Draft law on alternative civilian service withdrawn from Parliament

The right to alternative civilian service is enshrined by the Constitution’s Article 57. It has been almost 20 years now, but the law on alternative civilian service still does not exist. The Constitutional Court twice pointed to this fact.

22.01.2014 Six campaign teams denied registration in Vitsebsk region

In all six cases, the potential candidates for members of local councils allegedly failed to submit accurate nomination papers. These include Uladzimir Pravalski, who was running for President in 2010. Then, the CEC did not register him as a candidate, as part of collected signatures was deemed invalid.

22.01.2014 BAJ Expresses Solidarity with Colleagues in Ukraine

According to estimates of Ukrainian organizations, during the January 19-20 fighting in the European square in Kyiv, up to the 30 journalists were injured. In all more than 50 journalists during November – December 2013 suffered, mainly from the attack of Ukrainian police and the plain-clothed people, so called “titushki”.