The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 19 Jan 2015

19.01.2015 Hrodna officials ban UCP pickets

Representatives of the Hordna branch of the United Civil Party have received from the Executive Committee a ban on holding protests against the current monetary and financial crisis. The pickets were also expected to demand the resignation of the President and members of the government who are guilty of the crisis.

19.01.2015 Mikalai Statkevich faces two violation reports after transfer to Shklou colony

Political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich has been accused of two violations in just two days of his stay in the Shklou penal colony.

19.01.2015 Activist seeks compensation for unlawful detention in Salihorsk

In early January, the Salihorsk District Court reheard the case of local activist of the European Belarus movement Uladzimir Lemesh. As a result, the Court dismissed the case “for lack of evidence”. Now the opposition activist is going to recover funds for previously paid fine and hopes to receive compensation for the days spent in temporary detention.

19.01.2015 Yarmoshyna: November 15 is mostly like to be Election Day

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has approved the preliminarily date, the CEC chairperson said.

19.01.2015 Brest authorities ban series of pickets against financial crisis and for resignation of President

According to Uladzimir Vuyek, deputy chairman of the United Civil Party and the party’s leader in Brest, activists and supporters of the party have submitted 18 applications for holding pickets.

19.01.2015 Parents of Belarusian-language pupils in Baranavichy petition Prosecutor General over discrimination

Parents of pupils of the former Belarusian-language class in Baranavichy have sent an appeal to the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus. The appeal notes that the Baranavichy city executive committee, the administration of school No. 4, the Brest Regional Executive Committee and the Ministry of Education of Belarus denied them the right to education of their children in the state Belarusian language provided by the legislation and international standards.

19.01.2015 Vitsebsk journalists and activists keep appealing fines in photo session case

Having labeled a photo session on a background of graffiti as unauthorized picketing, the Chyhunachny District Court of Vitebsk fined six participants. Attempts to appeal this decision to the Regional Court have so far brought no success. The fines are now being appealed to the chairman of the Regional Court.

19.01.2015 Activist to stand trial in Brest

As told by Andrei Sharenda, he was detained on a city bus on January 16. The policemen said that the activist supposedly looked like a man who had committed an offense and took him to the Maskouski police department of Brest.