The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 13 Mar 2014

13.03.2014 Mahiliou: woman with two minor children is evicted from dormitory

The appropriate verdict was taken on March 12 by the Leninski District Court of Mahiliou.

13.03.2014 Human rights defenders launch an interactive web resource for election observers

The campaign can be joined by any Belarusian citizen – he/she only has to file an online application form and send the results of observation at a concrete polling station.

13.03.2014 Mahiliou police disrupt action “For Decent Roads”

The organizer of the spring action of motorists Illia Palonnikau was given administrative charges, the police took away two laptops during the examination of his apartment.

13.03.2014 Baranavichy: candidate continues struggling for publication of his pre-electoral program

Mikalai Charnavus, a candidate for the Brest Regional Council in Western constituency No. 21 in Baranavichy, continues to fight for the printing of his election program. He applied to the editor of the state-run newspaper “Nash Krai” stating that he had introduced some changes in the program and asked to publish the new version.

13.03.2014 Navapolattsk activists apply for picketing on Freedom Day

In Navapolatsk, representatives of political parties and democratic civil society organizations filed an application for a picket on Freedom Day, March 25.

13.03.2014 Statement of Belarusian Association of Journalists on violence against journalists in the Crimea

Pressure on journalists has increased ahead of the March 16 referendum in the Crimea. Every day information appears on detentions and attacks against our colleagues.

13.03.2014 Chair of Mikashevichy City Executive Committee uses physical violence against candidate

Candidate for the Mikashevich City Council Leanid Dubanosau paid a visit to the director of the local House of Culture "Granite" to agree on the time of his electoral meeting there, scheduled for March 16. Despite the fact that the House of Culture was determined as a place for such meetings by the city executive committee, the director said that she could not take such decision on her own.

13.03.2014 Brest: court punishes participants of electoral picket with fines

Leader of the Brest regional UCP branch Uladzimir Vuyek was fined 25 basic units, and activists of the party Dyiana Kastsiukovich and Yury Zhydovich – 10 basic units each.

13.03.2014 Babruisk authorities want to punish two people for picket of solidarity with Ukraine

On March 6 evening, a picket against the outbreak of war in Ukraine was held by two local activists. One of them, activist of the local branch of the Independent Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry Halina Smirnova, was caught by a policeman near her home, but was not detained.

13.03.2014 Kalinkavichy: new proceedings started against UCP activist Dzianis Rabianok

March 12, activist of the United Civil Party Dzianis Rabianok learned that new court proceedings had been started against him on a civil lawsuit of his neighbor, who demands that the activist pay him 10 million rubles as compensation for moral damages and lawyer's services. According to the writ handed to Mr. Rabianok, the hearings start on March 21.

13.03.2014 Shklou District Election Commission deceives Ryhor Kastusiou

Skhlou district newspaper "Udarny Front" for March 12 failed to publish the information on the criminal records of candidates for deputies of the Shklou District Council.

13.03.2014 State intends to tighten control over barristers

March 15, 2014 a pre-election report conference of members of the Minsk City Bar Association will take place in Minsk. Its agenda includes amendments and supplements to the Charter of Bar Association (concerning the disciplinary committee) and the Regulation on Disciplinary Commission. There are reasons to believe that the adoption of these amendments and supplements will make lawyers more dependent on the state. The barristers are offered to limit the frames of their legal activities with their own hands.