The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 15 Apr 2015

15.04.2015 Homiel human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka questioned as a witness in a criminal case regarding distribution of pornography

Today, April 15, Chairman of the Homiel Branch of the NGO "Legal Initiative" Leanid Sudalenka has been interrogated as a witness at the Homiel city department of the Investigation Committee in connection with a criminal case, brought under part 2 of article 343 of the Criminal Code (distribution of pornographic materials via the Internet) in connection with the alleged sending of pornographic videos from the mailbox, belonging to the human rights activist (sudalenko@mail.ru).

15.04.2015 Miory: BCD activist loses his job

A resident of Miory, activist of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party Siarhei Vasilyeu lost his job.

15.04.2015 Mahilioŭ social democrats file an appeal for May Day rally too

Activists of the Belarusian Social-Democratic Party (Hramada) want to get the officials permission to hold a demonstration in the city center.

15.04.2015 Hrodna: hearing of administrative case against Ales Dzianisau and Ales Kirkevich to continue April 22

April 15, the first hearing on ad aministrative case against the freelance journalists Ales Dzianisau and Ales Kirkevich took place in Hrodna.

15.04.2015 Ales Bialiatski meets Johannes Hahn ahead of his visit to Minsk

In the morning of April 15 in Brussels, the head of the HRC "Viasna" and FIDH Vice-President Ales Bialiatski met with European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn.

15.04.2015 Hrodna Regional Court dismisses Tamara Sialiun's appeal

April 15, the panel of judges of Hrodna Regional Court consisting of Judges Zoya Nikolskaya, Larysa Paliakova and presiding Judge Ihar Yarmak, turned down the appeal of Tamara Sialiun, the mother of an executed death row prisoner, Pavel Sialiun. Tamara Sialiun appealed the refusal of the appropriate state agencies to issue her the body of the son or inform her about the time and place of his burial.

15.04.2015 Rasul Jafarov urges court to acquit him

On the trial of the Azerbaijani human rights activist Rasul Jafarov on Wednesday, he made a closing statement. The human rights activist said that he would not touch the essence of the charges in detail, as the lawyers thoroughly presented the position of the defenсe.

15.04.2015 Salihorsk: civil and political activists express their solidarity with Mikalai Statkevich

In view of the increasing pressure from the authorities on the Belarusian political prisoner, former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich, Salihorsk public and political figures have expressed their support to him.

15.04.2015 Application for May Day picket filed in Baranavičy

April 14, the leader of the Baranavičy organization of the Independent Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry Ryhor Hryk filed an appeal for holding a picket on May 1. The activist states that the action will be directly related to the protection of labor, social and political rights of the citizens of Belarus.

15.04.2015 Supreme Court finds no grounds for appeal to the Constitutional Court

Tamara Sialiun has received a response from the Supreme Court, where he applied with the request to initiate a proposal to the Constitutional Court to amend Article 175 of the Criminal Code.

15.04.2015 Belarusian CSOs present reports at UPR pre-session

On April 8-10, in Geneva, the UPR Pre-session took place to hear NGOs standings before the 2nd cycle of the Universal Periodic Review. BAJ representative Mikhail Yanchuk joined the Belarusian team to speak about freedom of expression issues in Belarus.

15.04.2015 Maryna Adamovich: EU politicians have been repeating the same mistake for 20 years

The Belarusian authorities increase pressure on political prisoners while holding a dialogue with the EU.

15.04.2015 Human rights activist demands from policemen to explain seizure of computer

A human rights activist from Homiel Leanid Sudalenka plans to apply to the police department relating the fact of the search and seizure of the office equipment in his working place and at home.

15.04.2015 Activist from Brest summoned to KGB

Brest-based activist of Young Belarus movement Natallia Papkova us summoned to the KGB department.

15.04.2015 The undying 'last' dictatorships of Europe

My name is Ales Bialiatski. If it had not been for the relentless mobilisation of the international community, the European Union in particular, I would be writing these words behind the bars of the Bobruisk high-security penal colony in south-eastern Belarus.