The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 17 Mar 2014

17.03.2014 UCP Homel activist sentenced to 10-day arrest over picketing

Judge Siarhei Sheustruk of Homel’s Savetski district found UCP member Uladzimir Shytsikau guilty of violating procedures for organizing a mass event and punished him with 10 days of arrest. The hearing took place without witnesses, as one who wanted to support the detainee was allowed in the courthouse.

17.03.2014 Mikalai Ulasevich deprived of candidate’s registration

Mikalai Ulasevich, a candidate for the Varniany Rural Council in constituency No. 4, Hrodna region, has been deprived of a candidate’s status by a decision of the election commission. The decision refers to the candidate’s alleged calling for the boycott of the elections featured in his leaflets.

17.03.2014 Journalists Briefly Detained on Sunday

TV journalists Natallia Valakida and Ales Silich were detained when they were covering an electoral picket in Minsk.

17.03.2014 Election pickets banned in Mikashevichy

Leanid Dubanosau, a candidate for the Mikashevichy Town Council, planned to hold pickets on 15-16 March at an officially authorized place, which he reported to the town executive committee.

17.03.2014 Brochures with UN HRC decision in Uladzislau Kavaliou case distributed in Brest

Belarus has once again ignored a decision of the UN Human Rights Committee, as the authorities have not printed or distributed the international body’s opinion in the case of Uladzislau Kavaliou executed on charges of committing a terrorist act in the Minsk metro. As a result, the death convict’s mother, Liubou Kavaliova, printed the Committee’s decision at her own expense.

17.03.2014 Vaukavysk activist Vital Huliak fined 1.3 mln over solidarity with Ukraine

Vital Huliak, an opposition activist of the town of Vaukavysk, Hrodna region, has been sentenced to a fine of 1.3 mln rubles by the Vaukavysk District Court. He was detained by police on March 13 for staging a picket in support of Ukraine. Vital Huliak came out with a Ukrainian flag and the banner "No to War! Putin Out!" The trial was scheduled for March 14, but was adjourned till the 17th.

17.03.2014 Police seize leaflets "Freedom for Political Prisoners!" at election picket in Minsk

Police seized about 200 election leaflets from a BPF candidate, Illia Dabratvor, who staged yesterday a picket in front of Minsk’s Kamarouski market. The special attention to the campaign materials was caused by information about Belarusian political prisoners and the slogan "Freedom for Political Prisoners!"

17.03.2014 UCP picketers to stand trials today

Three participants of yesterday’s picket organized by the United Civil Party, UCP leader Anatol Liabedzka, Uladzimir Ramanouski, head of the Belarusian branch of the international organization "Memorial", and Aliaksandr Arastovich, first deputy chairman of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada), are awaiting trial after they were detained and brought to the detention center in Akrestsin Street. Their charges will be heard at the Savetski District Court of Minsk.