The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for September 2014

30.09.2014 Some computers are given back to Alexander Burakou and he got acquainted with the protocol of violation

According to the protocol, the journalist charged with violation of the Part 2 of the Art. 22.9 of the Administrative Code - illegal production and distribution of products

30.09.2014 Hrodna: October 2 - The trial of journalist Andrei Mialeshka

Authorities of Hrodna continue to persecute a freelance journalist Andrei Mialeshka.

30.09.2014 Human rights defender Tankachova may be stripped of her residence permit in Belarus

Against the human rights activist, head of educational organization "Center of Legal Transformation (Lawtrend)» Alena Tankachova started the procedure of deprivation of her residence permit in Belarus.

30.09.2014 FIDH and "Viasna" present a report on "Arbitrary Preventive Detention of Activists in Belarus"

Paris-Minsk, 24 September 2014 – In a report released today, our organisations establish that the authorities in Belarus systematically arrest activists prior to important public events to avoid any protest.

30.09.2014 Ales Bialiatski: Awarding of the Vaclav Havel Prize - a strong signal to the Azerbaijani authorities

Ales Bialiatski, head of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" and Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights, was in Strasbourg at the opening session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where on September 29 has been named the winner of the Vaclav Havel Prize on human rights.

29.09.2014 An overview on the freedom of association in Belarus was presented at the OSCE Human Dimension Meeting

At the annual OSCE Human Dimension Meeting was held a side event "Freedom of association and the legal environment for civil society organizations in Belarus” in Warsaw on September 26. The organizers of the event were the Assembly of Democratic NGOs of Belarus and the Center for Legal Transformation.

29.09.2014 Activist Uladzimir Lemesh was detained in Saligorsk

Activist of "European Belarus" Maxim Viniarski confirmed on Saturday the information about the detention of the activist of "European Belarus" Uladzimir Lemesh.

29.09.2014 Vasil Parfenkou doesn’t receive his friends’ letters again

Activist Volga Mikalajchyk is saying so, she regularly has been writing to the political prisoner Vasil Parfiankou.

29.09.2014 Azerbaijani political prisoner was awarded the Vaclav Havel Prize

Human rights activist Anar Mammedli, who is sent to prison by the Azerbaijani authorities to for exposing adulteration in the presidential election, was awarded the Vaclav Havel Prize.

26.09.2014 Mogilev authorities are trying to close the Human Rights Center

The only regional human rights organization registered in the country is on the verge of closing because of baseless causes.

26.09.2014 Babruisk: Maryna Malchanava has got a fine of 32 basic units

Bobruisk Judge Natalia Charapuha announced the court decision of the case of an independent journalist Maryna Malchanova on September 25. Recalling, she was accused of cooperation with foreign media without accreditation.

25.09.2014 Vice-speaker of the Bundestag is going to support all political prisoners in Belarus

Vice-speaker of the Bundestag Katrin Göring-Eckardt, the representative of the Green Party, has congratulated the head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski on his birthday, which he celebrates today.

25.09.2014 Mogilev: fine for transporting the newspaper "Our Mogilev" and newsletter "Social Democrat" is remained in force

Today, September 25, Mogilev Regional Court in the face of Judge Mikalaj Hladki remained in force the decision of the Mogilev district court regarding about the fine of 30 basic units and confiscation of almost 12 thousand papers at the vice-president of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) Ihar Barysau.

25.09.2014 "Viasna" and FIDH presented the report on human rights violations in Belarus to OSCE

At the the OSCE Human Dimension Meeting the heads of the HRC "Viasna" – the president of the center - former political prisoner Ales Bialiatski, vice-president Valiantsin Stefanovich, and coordinator of the campaign "Human rights defenders against the death penalty" Andrej Paluda - presented review of the human rights situation in Belarus on September 24 in Warsaw.

24.09.2014 Leyla Yunus' advocate reports deterioration of her health

Elchin Gambarov, an advocate of human rights defender Leyla Yunus, the Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), kept at the Baku SIZO (pre-trial prison), has reported on the deterioration of the health state of his client. According to the advocate, on Tuesday, he has not been allowed to visit the human rights defender at the SIZO.