The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 30 Apr 2015

30.04.2015 BCD denied premises for holing congress

Several institutions and agencies have denied to the organizing committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party to give premises for holding a congress.

30.04.2015 Activists ask Prosecutor General's Office to give legal assessment of Lukashenka's remarks

Human rights defender Tatsiana Raviaka sent an electronic appeal to the Prosecutor General's Office of Belarus, asking to assess Lukashenka's order to “take all Jews under control”.

30.04.2015 Human rights defender denied opportunity to visit prisons

Human rights activist and freelance journalist Leanid Svetsik was going to write a series of articles about the conditions of detention of persons held in prisons and detention centers of the Viciebsk region. He sent more than a dozen requests in these facilities asking for permission to visit them. But none of these requests has been granted.

30.04.2015 Freelance journalists in Homieĺ appeal fine over “illegal interviews”

Freelance journalists Natallia Kryvashei and Kanstantsin Zhukouski, who were earlier fined 5.4 million rubles each for allegedly making “illegal interviews”, have filed their appeals to the Regional Court. They are asking the court to assess their actions under international law, as provided by Article 2 of the Law on Mass Media.

30.04.2015 Mahilioŭ Social Democrats face ban on May Day demonstration

According to Dzmitry Liuntou, member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada), Mahilioŭ authorities have banned a peaceful assembly scheduled for May 1.

30.04.2015 Mahilioŭ Regional Court turns down appeal by political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok

The Mahilioŭ Regional Court considered today an appeal by political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok, whose initial sentence by the court of Mahilioŭ’s Lieninski District Court was extended on February 26 by one year and three days. The prisoner was charged with 16 violations of prison rules, the main of which was wearing a tracksuit instead of prison uniform.

30.04.2015 Court in Brest dismisses appeal by freelance journalist

Journalist Ina Khomich attempted to challenge a decision by the Court of Brest’s Maskoŭski district, according to which she was fined 30 basic units (5.4 million) under Article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences – “distribution and production of media products”.

30.04.2015 Situation of human rights: April 2015

Despite ongoing intensification of contacts between the Foreign Ministry of Belarus and the EU and the United States, there were no positive changes in the field of human rights in the country in April.