The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 13 May 2015

13.05.2015 Members of Chamber of Representatives adopt draft bill on amnesty

May 13, the draft “On amnesty in connection with the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945". It was presented by the Minister of Interior, Ihar Shunevich. He reminded that the draft law had been prepared on errand of Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

13.05.2015 Infographics: death penalty in Belarus in 2009-2015

The campaign «Human Rights Defenders against Death Penalty in Belarus» was launched in 2009.

13.05.2015 Yury Rubtsou continues hunger strike and prepares for trial

Despite all persuasions of medics, Yury Rubtsou continues hungering at Baranavičy remand prison.

13.05.2015 Biaroza: court hearing on picket ban postponed to May 20

May 12 at 11 a.m. Biaroza District Court was to have started the consideration of the appeal of the local human rights defenders against the ban of the picket they intended to hold on March 25 to mark the 97-th anniversary of the Belarusian People's Republic and express solidarity with political prisoners.

13.05.2015 Bychaŭ police express dissatisfaction with Internet publication

Bychaŭ police demanded from Mahilioŭ resident Natallia to sign that he had no relation to a publication about one of its police inspectors at the website of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”.

13.05.2015 Mikalai Dziadok to serve another year in Horki colony

HRC “Viasna” has learned about the new place of imprisonment of political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok, who had been sentenced to another year in prison on February 26 for alleged willful disobedience to the prison administration.

13.05.2015 Uzbekistan: ten years after the Andijan massacre, the human rights situation is worse than ever

Paris, May 11, 2015. In commemoration of the ten year anniversary of the Andijan massacre, the FIDH, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), ACAT (Action by Christians Against Torture) and Fiery Hearts Club remind the international community of the dangerous oblivion of one of the bloodiest massacre of civilians in Central Asia.

13.05.2015 Members of Salihorsk branch of Belarusian Language Society demand real equality of languages

Participants of the solemn assembly of the Salihorsk city organization of the Belarusian Language Society named after Francysk Skaryna" adopted an appeal to the head of the House of Representatives and the Prime Minister with the requirement of real linguistic equality in the country.

13.05.2015 Belarus: MEPs launch initiative to defend human rights

May 12, 2015 ALDE Group Vice-President, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (Liberal’s Movement of Lithuania) co-hosted in the European Parliament, a meeting with the relatives of six Belarusian political prisoners who came to share their experiences and talk about the human rights situation under Alexander Lukashenko’s regime.