The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for August 2014

28.08.2014 Human rights must lead Azerbaijan’s future development agenda – UN expert group

Human rights and open dialogue should be at the heart of Azerbaijan’s economic development, the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights concluded at the end of a 10-day visit to the country.

28.08.2014 Russian rights ombudsman asks Ukrainian counterpart to help free captured soldiers

Mikhail Fedotov, the head of the Russian presidential Human Rights Council, has appealed to Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Valeria Lutkovkska to help free Russian military servicemen captured near Donetsk.

28.08.2014 Court Rejects Appeal against Prosecutor’s Warning

The judge thinks that one month’s term to appeal against prosecutorial warning already expired; the journalist disagrees.

28.08.2014 Belarus violated right to peaceful assembly against UCP activist in Homel, says UN Human Rights Committee

The UN Human Rights Committee has said that the Belarusian authorities violated the right of the deputy chairman of the United Civil Party (UCP) Vasil Paliakou to peaceful assembly, by banning in September 2008 a mass event aimed to urge citizens not to take part in the parliamentary elections, which took place on September 28, 2008.

28.08.2014 Brest Regional Court dismisses appeal by Baranavichy activist

On August 27, Judge Natallia Surma of the Brest Regional Court dismissed the cassation appeal lodged by activist Mikalai Charnavus against an earlier ruling by the district court of Baranavichy of July 21, which found the individual entrepreneur guilty of violating Article 23.34, Part 3 of the Administrative Code – organization and holding an unauthorized meeting at the local market on July 1.

28.08.2014 Vitsebsk authorities ban picket set to mark Lukashenka’s birthday

A request for the event was submitted to the Kastrychnitski district administration of Vitsebsk by local blogger Ihar Pastnou, famous for his criticism of health care officials. He fulfilled all the requirements that are prescribed by the decision of the City Executive Committee “On Mass Events in Vitsebsk”, but failed to receive permission.

28.08.2014 BCD activist sentenced to 5 days of arrest for distribution of newspapers

The Kastrychnitski District Court of Minsk considered yesterday an administrative case against an activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, Andrei Kasheuski. Transport police officers charged him with two offenses, including distribution of newspapers, which they viewed as an unauthorized mass event (Art. 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).

27.08.2014 Homel activists appeal ban on NGO registration

On August 26, founders of the republican human rights association “Pakt” (“Covenan”), a movement for the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, submitted to the Supreme Court their appeal against the refusal of the Ministry of Justice to register the public association.

27.08.2014 Analytical report on migrant detainees presented in Belarus

In May-July 2014, a civil campaign “No People Are Illegal” with the support from the Human Rights Center “Viasna” monitored the level of openness and transparency of work with migrants on the part of government bodies and other organizations in charge.

27.08.2014 U.N. says pro-Russia rebels in Ukraine murder, kidnap and torture

Pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine are guilty of a wide array of human rights abuses, including murder, abductions and torture, and are receiving a "steady supply" of sophisticated weapons and ammunition, according to a U.N. report obtained by Reuters.

27.08.2014 BCD activist detained in Minsk

Andrei Kasheuski, an activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, was detained last evening in Minsk. He was reportedly distributing independent newspapers to earn a living.

27.08.2014 ILO: Work-related mishaps, sickness cause 2.3 million deaths, $2.8-trillion losses yearly

The International Labor Organization (ILO) called on member-states to push for zero occupational accidents and deaths, citing 2.3 million people worldwide die yearly as a result of work-related accidents.

27.08.2014 Amnesty International: Separatist forces in Ukraine accused of threatening mass ‘executions’

The armed group calling itself the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) must not carry out 'executions', including a reported threat of killing prisoners facing life sentences, Amnesty International said on August 22.

26.08.2014 Opposition activist Dzmitry Kremianetski sentenced to 10 days in jail

Judge Artsiom Biaskishski of the court of Minsk’s Savetski District Court heard today the administrative case against activist of the Young Front opposition movement Dzmitry Kremenetski. He was charged with disorderly conduct (Art. 17.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).

26.08.2014 Homel authorities avoid trial

On August 25, a hearing of a lawsuit lodged by human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka against the City Executive Committee was adjourned by the Tsentralny District Court of Homel after a representative of the executive authorities failed to appear in court.