The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for June 2014

30.06.2014 UN Human Rights Council extends mandate of UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus

On June 27, the delegates of the 26th session of the UN Human Rights Council voted to extend the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus, the UN News Centre said.

30.06.2014 Ales Bialiatski: No hard feelings towards Lithuania

Belarusian human rights activist Ales Belyatsky says he has no hard feelings towards Lithuania for providing the Belarusian authorities with information that became a pretext for his detention.

30.06.2014 ENFIN LIBRE! – Paris welcomes Ales Bialiatski’s release

As promised by the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, the portrait of Ales Bialiatski, which was installed in front of the city’s 11th district hall, now features an inscription “Free at Last!” The French capital thus welcomes the release of the Belarusian human rights defender, an honorary citizen of Paris, Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).

30.06.2014 New human rights group to appear in Belarus

A group of human rights defenders has submitted to the Ministry of Justice documents for registration of the National Human Rights Association PAKT (“Covenant”, a movement for the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights). The organization’s constituent assembly has elected chairman, Mikhail Pastukhou, vice-chairman, Viktar Karniayenka, and executive director, human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka.

27.06.2014 Vasil Parfiankou: I have more than 20 violations

Human rights defender Anastasiya Loika has received a letter from political prisoner Vasil Parfiankou, who told her about his latest news.

27.06.2014 Authorities open another criminal case for insulting Lukashenka

A criminal case has reportedly been opened against former political prisoner Katsiaryna Sadouskaya.

26.06.2014 Appeal of Belsat Journalist Dismissed

The Judge of the Hrodna Regional Court dismissed the appeal of Ales' Zaleuski, staff journalist of Belsat who had been fined for "unlawful production of mass media products".

26.06.2014 Piotr Kuchura’s wife: Some progress in investigation of torture report

The ongoing efforts of Viasna’s human rights defenders and the wife of Piotr Kuchura, who is serving a sentence of imprisonment in Mahiliou penal colony No. 15, have finally brought certain results. It must be a complaint sent to the UN Human Rights Committee on behalf of the convict, who was reportedly poisoned while in prison, that made the investigating authorities react to torture reports.

26.06.2014 Consideration of Belarus’ report by UN Human Rights Committee scheduled for March 2015

A periodic report of Belarus on the human rights situation in the country was to be presented to the UN Human Rights Committee on November 7, 2001, but was eventually submitted with a 10-year delay on December 15, 2011. The country’s latest periodic report was considered back in 1997, therefore, the report highlights issues of compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in Belarus for the period from November 1997 to March 2015. The report has been prepared and submitted in accordance with Article 40 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

26.06.2014 Legislation on lawyers: What changes needed?

It has been over two years since the entry in force of the Law “On the Legal Profession and Activities of Lawyers in the Republic of Belarus” and other regulations adopted pursuant to it. Despite the fact that this law is sufficiently “fresh”, the need for changes in the Belarusian legislation on lawyers has been prompted by both national and foreign experts. In the application of this Act, this need has been also perceived by the lawyers’ community and the state.

26.06.2014 Mikashevichy: Leanid Dubanosau released without charges

Trade union activist Leanid Dubanosau was detained in Mikashevichy on June 25. The reason for detention was his alleged use of foul language. As a result, he was taken to the local police department.

26.06.2014 Byalyatski: Free elections are key to Belarus' future

Securing free and fair elections is a key task of Belarusian society, human rights defender Ales Byalyatski said during an online questions-and-answers session hosted by Naviny.by on Wednesday.

25.06.2014 We urge the Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners and to initiate systemic changes aimed at ensuring exercisable human rights

Statement by the Human Rights Center “Viasna” on the release of the organization’s chairman and vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Ales Bialiatski.

25.06.2014 Trade union activist Leanid Dubanosau detained in Mikashevichy

Leanid Dubanosau, an independent trade union activist from the town of Mikashevichy, has been detained by police and taken to the local police department, svaboda.org said quoting the activist’s associate Aleh Stakhayevich.

25.06.2014 Great Britain demands release of political prisoners in Belarus

London welcomes the release of Ales Bialatski and calls upon Belarus authorities to release the rest of the political prisoners. This comes from Britain’s Minister for European Affairs David Lidington, BelaPAN reports.