The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2015

31.03.2015 Freelance journalist appeals fine to Supreme Court

Ales Burakou, a freelance journalist in Mahiliou, has sent a supervisory appeal to the Chairman of the Supreme Court to challenge a fine imposed on him in October 2014 for his work for foreign media.

31.03.2015 Racism must be fought here and now! Results of the Week against Racism in Belarus - 2015

From 14 to 22 March, Belarusian human rights defenders held a series of actions and activities within the European Week Against Racism.

31.03.2015 Hrodna Regional Court to hear appeal by death convict’s mother

A cassation appeal by Tamara Sialiun, the mother of Pavel Sialiun, who was executed in April 2014, will be considered by the Hrodna Regional Court on April 15.

30.03.2015 Journalist Ales Kirkevich faces administrative charges

Former political prisoner and now a freelance journalist Ales Kirkevich is going to stand trial on administrative charges in Hrodna. The journalist is accused of illegal manufacture and distribution of information products (Part 2, Art. 22.9 of the Administrative Code).

30.03.2015 Mahiliou Regional Court turns down appeal in case of confiscation of independent newspapers

On this occasion, Ihar Barysau, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) and editor of the newsletter “NASH Mahiliou”, is preparing a complaint to the Supreme Court, as well as to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

30.03.2015 Police in Belaaziorsk unable to find distributors of defamatory leaflets

Valiantsin Lazarenkau, an activist of the Tell the Truth campaign in Belaaziorsk, has received a reply from local police department, saying that it was not possible to find those responsible for the manufacture and distribution of defamatory flyers. The administrative case is closed.

30.03.2015 Report on the monitoring of mass event “Freedom Day - 2015”

The sanctioned mass event (demonstration) was held in Minsk on 25 March 2015, from 3 pm to 6 pm. Traditionally, Belarusian opposition movements hold this event every year to celebrate the Declaration of the Belarusian People’s Republic in 1918.

27.03.2015 Brest: journalist Aliaksandr Liauchuk tried in absentia

On March 26, the Maskouski District Court of Brest considered an administrative case against local freelance journalist Aliaksandr Liauchuk. However, he had not received an invitation to the court session.

27.03.2015 Some providers block access to opposition websites

Some providers have blocked access to opposition websites charter97.org and belaruspartisan.org. The problems with access have been reported by subscribers of Belinfonet, IP Telcom and Life.

27.03.2015 Freelance journalist in Homel charges with “illegal production of media products”

On March 26, Viktar Stsepanenka, head of the department of public order and prevention of the police department of Chyhunachny district of Homel, charged local freelance journalist Kanstantsin Zhukouski under Part 2 of Art. 22.9 of the Administrative Code (illegal manufacture of media products).

27.03.2015 Viasna releases DVD about Soviet-era dissident Mikhail Kukabaka

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" has released on DVD a documentary entitled The Dissident telling about the famous Belarusian political prisoner Mikhail Kukabaka.

26.03.2015 Pavel Sapelka: Only one political prisoner has chances for release under amnesty

The authorities are preparing another large-scale amnesty, according to euroradio.by. Lawyer of the unregistered Human Rights Center "Viasna" Pavel Sapelka says that the amnesty bill has not yet been published. However, all such acts have similarities and general principles, so we can now assume whether political prisoners can be amnestied.

26.03.2015 While defendants are tortured in Belarus, there is no assurance that the guilty are punished

As part of an urgent action by Amnesty International, representative of the Russian Committee against Torture and an Amnesty International member Dmitry Utukin signed a petition to the President of Belarus urging him to immediately declare a moratorium on executions with a view to abolish the death penalty in Belarus.

26.03.2015 Journalist Andrei Mialeshka denied accreditation

Freelance journalist Andrei Mialeshka has been denied accreditation as a journalist of the Belarusian Radio Racyja. The journalist could not understand on what basis this decision was taken, as the written response from the Foreign Ministry says nothing about it.

26.03.2015 BCD activists in Hrodna lose business

Siarhei and Mikalai Verameyenkas, activists of the Belarusian Christian Democracy in Hrodna, have had their license suspended by the Ministry of Transport, thus being deprived of the opportunity to earn a living by passenger carriage. The formal reason for this was last year’s fine that was imposed on Siarhei Verameyenka for violations in the design of trip tickets.