The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 20 Feb 2014

20.02.2014 Another prosecutor’s warning to independent journalist

On February 19, Yury Dziashuk was once again summoned to the Prosecutor's Office, where the journalist received an official warning, referring to a ban on working for foreign media without accreditation, as well as the inadmissibility of publication of unverified information. The journalist, however, could not obtain a written copy of the warning, the press-service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports.

20.02.2014 Two opposition members in Homel not registered as candidates for Parliament

The district election commission of Homel’s constituency No. 36 held its meetings today to approve the registration of candidates for Parliament. The constituency was the only one that failed to elect a MP back in the 2012 general elections, after a pro-government candidate, aide to the president in the Homel region Ihar Prakapenka withdrew his nomination, just like the opposition candidate, UCP member Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh. A candidate representing the LDP did not receive the necessary amount of votes.

20.02.2014 Blogger in Babruisk faces four criminal charges

The confrontation of blogger Aleh Zhalnou and police is still underway in Babruisk. Over the past year, the blogger has faced 14 cases: one civil, nine administrative, and four criminal charges. Another criminal case was opened against Aleh’s son, Aliaksei. In certain cases, lawsuits have already reached the court, but most trials are yet to start in Babruisk.

20.02.2014 Public control of prisons: Legislative restrictions

What is the meaning of the phrase “on the basis and in the manner prescribed by law” included in the rule of the Code providing public associations with the right to control the activities of prisons? Is control by the PMCs efficient?

20.02.2014 BPF activist appeals denial of registration as candidate

The election commission of Zavodski district of Minsk denied yesterday registration to a candidate for the Minsk City Council Iliya Dabratvor. The potential candidate representing the Belarusian Popular Front was going to run in the city’s constituency No. 1.

20.02.2014 Election officials block opposition candidates in Vitsebsk

A number of members of opposition parties and pro-democratic NGOs were not registered as candidates for the Vitsebsk City Council, including the most famous persons of the region, human rights defender Pavel Levinau, coordinator of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Tatsiana Seviarynets, coordinator of the movement “For Freedom” in Vitsebsk region Khrystafor Zhaliapau, coordinator of the campaign “Tell the Truth” in the Vitsebsk region Lidziya Sahidulina and others.

20.02.2014 Police chief in Klimavichy refuses to prosecute employee over slander

Alena Marchanka, resident of the village of Damamerychy, Klimavichy district, sent a complaint to the chief of Mahiliou regional police department and the district prosecutor, requesting to cancel the decision of an unknown employee of the police department, who ordered to drop defamation charges against police sergeant Panasenka. Ms. Marchanka urges the officials not to miss the period provided for bringing the policeman to administrative responsibility.

20.02.2014 Supreme Court to consider appeal against repeated death sentence for Aliaksandr Hrunou

The Judicial Board for Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court is expected to hear on April 8 an appeal filed by Aliaksandr Hrunou, 25, who was repeatedly sentenced to death for the brutal murder of a woman.