The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for May 2014

31.05.2014 Human rights activists warn Russian authorities over inevitable consequences of hunt for “foreign agents”

On May 30, the Human Rights Council of Russia made a statement to condemn the authorities’ wish to put the label of “foreign agents” on any independent public activity in the country.

31.05.2014 Fresh probe launched in Valadarka prisoner death case

On December 4, the body of Ihar Ptsichkin, who died in Minsk’s prison in Valadarski Street in August 2013, was exhumed. However, his relatives have not yet received the results of the second autopsy, nn.by reports.

31.05.2014 Brest Regional Court dismisses appeal of independent journalist

Yauhen Skrabets, a freelance journalist working for the Belarusian Radio Racyja, tried to challenge the decision of the trial court, which sentenced him to 10 days of arrest for alleged disorderly conduct.

31.05.2014 The fourth argument against the death penalty (video)

The fourth film in the series “Six Arguments against the Death Penalty” tells about the killings of political opponents and the mass shootings.

30.05.2014 Belarusian dissident Mikhail Kukabaka of Russian human rights activist murdered in Ukraine: Andrei Mironov’s weapon was truthful information that exposed government lies

Today, on May 30, Andrei Mironov, a Soviet political prisoner and member of the Human Rights Center “Memorial”, who laid to rest in Moscow. Andrei Mironov was killed near the city of Slovyansk in Ukraine on May 24.

30.05.2014 Siarhei Pratsirayeu. A man who got out of the “corridor of death”.

The “corridor of death” is a corridor in the prison basement where cells for death convicts are located, and there is one way out of it – to be shot. And exceptions never happen. But…

30.05.2014 Vitsebsk Regional Court rejects supervisory appeal against ban on picket against police lawlessness

A reply signed by the Chairman of the Vitsebsk Regional Court Mikalai Khamichonak was received doctor Ihar Pastnou, who is famous for his criticism of authorities. He tried to challenge the decision of the Kastrychnitski District Court, which dismissed his appeal against the district administration. The latter did not allow him to hold a rally against police lawlessness.

30.05.2014 Belarusian human rights defender: “Ukraine had true elections”

Leanid Markhotka, a human rights activist representing the Belarusian Helsinki Committee in the town of Salihorsk, participated in monitoring the presidential election in Ukraine. Upon returning home, the observer described the difference between the Belarusian and Ukrainian elections.

30.05.2014 Police detain protesters in Minsk

In the evening of May 29, Minsk police detained several persons involved in a picket under the slogan “Death to Kremlin Invaders!”, which was staged in the city’s central Kastrychnitskaya Square. All of them are activists of the youth public association “Alternative”, says the NGO’s leader Aleh Korban on Facebook.

30.05.2014 Another journalist to stand trial over work for Radio Racyja

Andrei Mialeshka, a freelance journalist of Hrodna, has been summoned the Kastrychnitski District Court. Last evening, he received a phone call from the district court’s secretary who said that he should have appeared in court. It later turned out that the subpoena was held in the post-office. Now Andrei Mialeshka will have to appear in court today, on May 30.

30.05.2014 Minsk authorities officially ban Amaroka rock band

Head of the Department of Culture of the Minsk City Executive Committee, Vitalina Rudzikava, has officially prohibited a concert by the rock band Amaroka, according to a media project tuzin.fm.

30.05.2014 Russian psychiatrists again question findings by Belarusian doctors in case of Maladechna resident

As a result of misunderstanding in 2012, a resident of the town of Maladechna, Alesia Sadouskaya, was taken to the police station, where law enforcement officers reportedly tortured her using so-called “lastochka” position, as her hands were cuffed behind her back and tied to her feet, while the woman was put on the floor with her belly down. After Ms. Sadouskaya threatened to sue the policemen, she herself was accused of an offense and later sent for a psychiatric examination. As a result, a commission composed of psychiatric experts concluded on the need of compulsory treatment.

29.05.2014 Human rights defenders attend conference on Belarus in Geneva

On May 27, Geneva hosted a conference on the human rights situation in Belarus with the participation of international and Belarusian human rights defenders, relatives of political prisoners and the representative of the European Union at the United Nations. The event, which was organized by the Human Rights House Foundation, was meant to precede the presentation of a report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus.

29.05.2014 Over 300 oppositionists got arrested during IIHF World Championship in Minsk

Human rights activists did not know of the most political prisoners. Andrej Tkachou, a 28-year old fitness instructor and event-manager, tells in his blog how spent 15 day in the jail in Akrescina Street in Minsk.

29.05.2014 Accessibility Week 2014: From Accessibility to Equality

A campaign entitled Accessibility Week 2014 will take place in Belarus from 1 to 15 June 2014. The action will include a series of events related to the issues of all kinds of accessibility for people with disabilities. The initiator of the event is the Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities.