The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for November 2014

24.11.2014 Young opposition activist Haydukow released after being charged with minor offense

Andrey Haydukow, a prominent young opposition activist who was arrested Friday in his home city of Navapolatsk, Vitsyebsk region, over the distribution of leaflets about political prisoners in Belarus, was released from the police station after a charge sheet was drawn up against him.

24.11.2014 Authorities keep torturing death convict’s mother (PHOTOS)

Volha Hrunova, the mother of Aliaksandr Hrunou, who was executed on October 22, 2014 for the murder of his friend Natallia Yemialyianchykava, has received his prison uniform. It was after receiving the package that the death convict’s mother realized that the death sentence was carried out.

24.11.2014 Activist in Khotsimsk complains against police officers

Valery Karankevich, an opposition activist from the town of Khotsimsk, has sent a complaint to the Minister of Internal Affairs asking the official to inform him about the results of an official investigation into the work of the district police department and the Mahiliou regional police department. The probe was expected to highlight a number of violations committed by them in the conduct of administrative proceedings in a slander lawsuit he lodged after a series of publications on an Internet resource voskresinfo.com.

24.11.2014 Human rights activist Uladzimir Khilmanovich to stand trial for honoring anti-Russian rebels

Participants in the traditional action in memory of the insurgents of the 1863 anti-Russian uprising, which was held in the town of Svislach on October 26, are still facing administrative charges of involvement in an unauthorized event.

24.11.2014 Minsk court turns down appeal against picket ban

On November 21, the court of the Maskouski district of Minsk considered an appeal against a decision of the Minsk City Executive Committee, which banned a picket of solidarity with Ukraine citing obviously far-fetched reasons, the press service of the Committee “Solidarity” reports.

21.11.2014 Svetlahorsk officials ban picket on rights of persons with disabilities

Civil society activists Yury Liashenka was not allowed to hold a picket, which was scheduled for November 22 at the central square of Svetlahorsk. The activist intended to raise public awareness and to protest against discrimination against persons with disabilities during the renovation of a residential building in Lenin Street.

21.11.2014 Babruisk: Picketing location busy for indefinite period

Members of the UCP’s Babruisk office petitioned the city authorities asking for permission to hold between 20 and 24 November a series of pickets against the deployment of a Russian military base. The activists believe that the appearance of the base is contrary to Article 18 of the Constitution.

21.11.2014 Activist awaits trial for memorial action in Svislach

Aliaksandr Mekh, activist of the Belarusian Popular Front, visited today the Kobryn district police department. The visit dealt with the case of participation in an unsanctioned rally in the town of Svislach on October 26. In reality, it was a traditional action in memory of the rebels of the 1863-1864 anti-Russian uprising, which is held annually in Svislach, Hrodna region. Participants of the event visit the grave of Viktar Kalinouski, brother of the uprising leader Kastus Kalinouski, laying flowers at places connected with the uprising.

21.11.2014 Mahiliou Regional Court turns down appeal by independent journalist

On November 20, the Mahiliou Regional Court heard an appeal lodged by independent journalist Aliaksandr Burakou against the Court of Mahiliou’s Leninski district, who sentenced him to a fine of 6 mln rubles for violation of legislation on mass media (Art. 22.9, Part 2 of the Administrative Code, “illegal manufacture and distribution of media products”).

21.11.2014 Trade union activist jailed for two days after asking for complaint book

Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk, legal inspector of the independent trade union of radio-electronic industry (REP) from Baranavichy has been unexpectedly sentenced to two days in jail.

21.11.2014 Brest activists ask prosecutor’s office to check work of local MPs

Activists of the civil initiative “Social Office” have written to the Prosecutor’s Office with a request to investigate the actions of the deputies of the Brest City Council, who have not responded to a petition on behalf of the citizens.

21.11.2014 UN Human Rights Committee rules in favor of Homel activist

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has found numerous violations of the right to disseminate information against a United Civil Party activist from Homel Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh. The Committee recommends the Belarusian authorities to restore the activist’s rights, to compensate for all the costs incurred, as well as to change the law “On Mass Events”.

20.11.2014 Political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok faces one more year in prison

On November 20, it was reported that a criminal case was opened against political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok under Part 1, Article 411 of the Criminal Code - willful disobedience of the lawful demands of the administration of the correctional institution. As a result, he may be sentenced to one more year of imprisonment.

20.11.2014 On Judge Palulekh’s code of ethics

On the eve of the hearing of an appeal by activist Yury Rubtsou, who was convicted on criminal charges of “insulting the judge”, human rights activists draw attention to the identity of the “victim” in the case – Judge Kiryl Palulekh of the Court of Minsk’s Savetski district.

20.11.2014 Three more trials expected over photos in Vitsebsk

According to the Vitsebsk police, there were seven participants in an unsanctioned rally – these were the persons whom the police somehow could identify in the photographs. A human rights activist, three journalists, two civil society activists and an unidentified passerby who liked the idea of being photographed near the closed house of culture.