The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 15 Jan 2015

15.01.2015 Preliminary hearing on appeal against human rights picket held in Baranavichy

January 15, a preliminary hearing on the appeal of the human rights activist Siarhei Housha against the ban on his picket, issued by Baranavichy City Eecutive Committee on December 5, 2014, took place at the Baranavichy City and District Court.

15.01.2015 Östgruppen: verdict on Tonkacheva's case has a clear political motivation

Representatives of the Swedish organization Östgruppen comment on the verdict of the Minsk court which refused to cancel the earlier court decision to deport human rights activist Elena Tonkacheva from Belarus.

15.01.2015 Svetlahorsk police pay interest to the role of journalists during a picket

January 15, civil society activist Yury Liashenka was summoned to the Svetlahorsk District Police Department for a “talk”. On his demand he was issued with a writ where his status was indicated as “witness”.

15.01.2015 Brest Regional Court turns down Ales Mekh's appeal

On January 15, the Brest Regional Court considered the appeal of the civil society activist Ales Mekh against the verdict of the Kobryn District Court, according to which he was found guilty of participating in an unauthorized mass event (honoring of the rebels of 1863, held on October 26, 2014 in the town of Svislach and the village of Yakushouka in Hrodna region) and sentenced to a fine.

15.01.2015 A video shooting about direction of people to forced “treatment” against alcoholism

The Human Rights Centre "Viasna" received a small video about the direction of a group of people who allegedly suffer from alcoholism to activity therapy centres. The video was shot at the end of 2014 near the detention center in Akrestsin Street.

15.01.2015 Members of Hare Krishna community are charged with use of obscene language

Several days ago, Polatsk police detained two members of Hare Krishna community and charged them under Art. 17.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, “disorderly conduct".

15.01.2015 Handicapped activist receives anonymous threats

Svetlahorsk resident Yury Liashenka, handicapped civil society activist, faced with another act of psychological pressure. According to him, he has received an anonymous threat letter to his e-mail address.

15.01.2015 Student challenges his expulsion from Belarusian State University

The continuation of the consideration of Uladzimir Andryienkas appeal against his expulsion from the juridical faculty of Belarusian State University continued at the Maskouski District Court of Minsk on January 14.

15.01.2015 UN Human Rights Committee recognizes a violation of the rights of a civil society activist

United Nations Human Rights Committee issued a decision on the communication № 1987/2010, according to which the Republic of Belarus is recognized as violator of the rights of the civil society rights activist Anatol Stambrouski.

15.01.2015 Political activist challenges actions of tax inspectorate

Homel activist Yury Klimovich filed a lawsuit with the Tsentralny District Court of Homelagainst the decision of the district inspection of taxes and dues. He asks the court to recognize the claims to a private enterprise "Bel-Ost", which he founded and headed, unfounded and annul the decision of the tax inspectorate.

15.01.2015 Pavel Sapelka about the "anti-drug" decree: “Such measures were to have been taken some 15 years - 20 ago”

According to the Decree of the President of №6 "On Urgent Measures to Combat Drug Trafficking" which came into effect on January 1 the government should adopt a comprehensive action plan including effective measures to combat drug trafficking, prevent the use of drugs and provide social rehabilitation of drug addicts. According to the Decree of the President of №6 "On Urgent Measures to Combat Drug Trafficking" which came into effect on January 1 the government should adopt a comprehensive action plan including effective measures to combat drug trafficking, prevent the use of drugs and provide social rehabilitation of drug addicts.

15.01.2015 Iosif Siaredzich: Ministry of Information chooses punitive measures

A preliminary hearing in Narodnaya Volia's suit against the Ministry of Information was held in the Supreme Court on January 14.

15.01.2015 Elena Tonkacheva's appeal turned down

On January 13 at 2.30 p.m. consideration of the appeal of Elena Tonkacheva against the decision of the DCM concerning her expulsion from Belarus continued at the Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk.

15.01.2015 Chronicle of January 12 hearing on Elena Tonkacheva's appeal against expulsion from Belarus

The consideration of the appeal of the human rights activist Elena Tonkacheva against the Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Pershamaiski District Police Department of Minsk continued at 2.30 p.m. on January 12 at the Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk. The case is considered by Judge Natallia Petukh.