The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 12 Feb 2014

12.02.2014 Secretary co Central Election Commission reported the number of contenders nominated for the local elections

As reported to the European Radio for Belarus by the CEC Secretary Mikalai Lazavik, 22,784 contenders for councils of various levels were nominated at 18,816 precincts.

12.02.2014 Mahiliou: 18th century house dismantled in Mahiliou

The house did not have the status of historical and cultural value. The information about the demolition of the historic buildings was reported by Chairman of the Mahiliou regional organization of the NGO "Belarusian Voluntary Society for the Protection of Cultural and Architectural Monuments" Uladzimir Krauchanka.

12.02.2014 Brest region: half of contenders for local councils in are members of local councils

All in all, 3,362 people filed documents for registration as contenders for the local councils in the Brest region. Most of them, 1,954 people, were nominated by collecting signatures of voters.

12.02.2014 Statement of the Secretariat of the Union of Belarusian Writers

As it became known, on February 11, 2014, the Ashmiany District Court decided to ban the importation of books published in Vilnius, authored by literary critic, member of the NGO "Union of Belarusian Writers” Ales Bialiatski “Enlightened by the Belarusian Issue".

12.02.2014 Belarus ranks 157th out of 180 countries in 2014 World Press Freedom Index

Belarus is ranked 157th out of 180 countries in the 2014 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders earlier this month.

12.02.2014 Washington state governor declares death penalty moratorium

(Reuters) - Washington state Governor Jay Inslee declared a moratorium on Tuesday on carrying out the death penalty in his Pacific Northwest state, citing concerns about unequal application of justice in determining who is executed.

12.02.2014 Israel's Ambassador Shagal calls Belarusian political prisoners criminals

Joseph Shagal compared the Belarusian political prisoners with Palestinian extremists. He said it in an interview with RTVI channel on February 6.

12.02.2014 Ales Bialiatski: Finalist for the 2014 Front Line Defenders Award

February 10 the international organization Front Line Defenders presented the Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the first of six finalists for the 10th annual Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk, awarded in collaboration with medyyasetkay "Al Jazeera."

12.02.2014 Ryhor Hryk sues Baranavichy City Executive Committee

Civil society activist Ryhor Hryk filed a lawsuit with the Baranavichy City and District Court against the unlawful actions of the city officials, who unlawfully prohibited him to hold a picket and failed to timely inform him about the prohibition.

12.02.2014 Hrodna: UCP members are summoned to police

Chair of the Hrodna city organization of the United Civil Party Aliaksandr Vasilevich and some other members of the organization were summoned to the police for February 12. They were informed that reports of administrative violation had been drawn up against them.

12.02.2014 Homel region: election campaigning is allowed at stadiums and in parks

Homel Regional Executive Committee must have decided that stadiums and parks are frequented by the electorate at winter. This follows from their regulations, according to which campaigning is allowed in such places.

12.02.2014 Hrodna City Election Commission refuses to register Siarhei Verameyenka's candidacy

Hrodna City Election Commission, headed by Uladzimir Khliabich (pictured), refused to accept the documents for registration of an activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Siarhei Verameyenka, as a candidate to the Hrodna City Council.

12.02.2014 Lidziya Yarmoshyna: “CEC doesn't give legal assessment to form of work of executive committees”

A resident of Biaroza Tamara Shchapiotkina appealed to the Central Election Commission to complain about the closeness of the procedure of decision-making at the Biaroza District Executive Committee, which manifested in the DEC's refusal to tell her whether she was included in the PEC No. 11.

12.02.2014 Babruisk: criminal case instigated against blogger Aleh Zhalnou

Babruisk City Prosecutor's Office opened a criminal case on the fact of "public insult of a representative of authority in connection with the performance of his duties" (Article 369 of the Criminal Code), reports the press-service of the Babruisk City Police Department.

12.02.2014 Human rights activist, nominated by 15 groups of citizens, not included in a PEC

10,568 people were included in 868 precinct election commissions, among them – seven representatives the Left Party "Fair World", 3 representatives of the United Civil Party, 2 – of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada). 98.6 % of all precinct election commissions don't have any opposition activists among their members.