The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 6 Mar 2014

06.03.2014 Homel journalists for Radio “Racyja” issued with formal warnings

Lawyer of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Leanid Sudalenka, who represented the interests of Mikalai Bianko and Yuliya Sivets, considers it necessary to appeal the warning of the Homel Regional Prosecutor's Office.

06.03.2014 Those who discriminate independent trade unions are welcome to run in the elections

The names of the candidates for the regional council running in Babruisk have been published. Most of them occupy high positions in organizations and enterprises.

06.03.2014 Brest: premiere of theatric play “Chernonyl” canceled due to “repairs”

The Belarusian premiere of the play by actors of the “Kryly Khalopa” (“Serf's Wings”) theater was to have taken place on March 6 at the Center of Culture and Leisure of the Paudniovy neighborhood in Brest.

06.03.2014 Belarusian police marked their holiday day by torturing detainee

Late in the evening of 4 March, the Day of Belarusian Police, activist of the National-Bolshevik movement Dzmitry Paliyenka, who had been repeatedly arrested on fabricated charges, was detained by a police patrol near a fresh graffiti “Down with Police State!”

06.03.2014 Continuation of the trial over Viktar Sharshun and white-red-white flag

The Tsentralny District Court of Minsk held another hearing on the case of Minsker Viktar Sharshun, beaten by the police for hanging a white-red-white flag on his balcony.

06.03.2014 Pavel Levinau: Chair of Vitsebsk City Election Commission should resign”

Vitsebsk human rights defender conducted his own investigation about the personality of Chairperson of the Vitsebsk City Election Commission, who was directly involved in the deception of voters. As it turned out, Valiantsina Kazakouskaya was twice brought to administrative responsibility, including for the illegal use of funds.

06.03.2014 Political prisoner Vaskovich doesn't receive letters

Yauhen Vaskovich, a political prisoner and member of the Belarusian Christian Party, has problems with receiving letters, though the prison authorities say he receives and sends letters.

06.03.2014 Liudmila Kuchura applies to the Office of Prosecutor General and the Parliament concerning the ineffectiveness of investigations into allegations of torture

Though Minsker Liudmila Kuchura has taken much effort, she still cannot get a punishment for the administration and staff of penal colony No, 15 in Mahiliou, where her husband was tortured with clorine while serving his prison term.

06.03.2014 Biaroza activists intend to hold a picket on Freedom Day

One of the picket organizers, human rights defender Siarzhuk Rusetski says that picket will be dedicated not only to the 96th anniversary of the proclamation of the Belarusian People's Republic, but also to other topical issues which need to be discussed publicly.

06.03.2014 Rechytsa authorities scared of democratic candidate's speech

Rechytsa district radio refuses to broadcast unsensored appeal to voters of a candidate for the district council, businessman and coordinator of the campaign "Tell the Truth!" Aleh Shabetnik.

06.03.2014 Maksim Viniarski sentenced to 15 days of arrest for action of solidarity with Ukraine

Maksim Viniarski, a coordinator of European Belarus, held a picket near the Embassy of Russia in Belarus on March 5.

06.03.2014 Vkontakte social network banned Freedom Day application

Belarusian patriot Kanstantsin Novikau specially for the Freedom Day. The purpose of the application was to gather on the Vkontakte no less than 10000 Belarusians to celebrate the Freedom Day on 25 March and also promptly inform potential participants on all the events related to the festive date all over the country, the human rights center Viasna reports.