The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for July 2015

31.07.2015 Supreme Court rejects appeal by political prisoner Ihar Alinevich

According to Valiantsina Alinevich, the mother of political prisoner Ihar Alinevich, she has received a letter from her son, which said that the Supreme Court has dismissed the political prisoner’s supervisory appeal.

31.07.2015 Zhodzina: violations committed while collecting signatures for Lukashenka (photo)

Observers in Zhodzina say they have documented violations when collecting signatures by the initiative group for the nomination of Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

31.07.2015 Mahilioŭ: administrative resources used in collecting signatures for Lukashenka

Aliaksei Paulouski, an activist of the nomination group the United Civil Party leader Anatol Liabedzka, says citizens are forced to sign for Lukashenka in Mahilioŭ.

31.07.2015 Valiantsin Stefanovich: "Not only the observer should be able to monitor the counting of votes, but the procedure itself should be transparent"

Last week, the CEC Secretary Mikalai Lazavik said in a talk show on the ONT TV channel that observers should be possible to directly observe the counting of votes.

31.07.2015 Mikaševičy: Administrative resources abused when collecting signatures for Lukashenka

The employees of the Mikaševičy-based hospital have been involved in using the administrative resource when collecting signatures in support of presidential candidate Aliaksandr Lukashenka during working hours.

30.07.2015 State media in Salihorsk cover Lukashenka’s campaign only

The state-owned media of Salihorsk have been actively covering the collecting signatures in support of the initiative group of Aliaksandr Lukashenka. Meanwhile, representatives of the opposition candidates do not receive airtime or opportunity to comment.

30.07.2015 More trade union activists fired in Babrujsk

The management of the Babrujsk-based plant of tractor parts and units continues harassing members of the Free Trade Union of Belarus. Over the past two years, the employer has got rid of several trade union activists by refusing to extend their labor contracts. But the last two cases were “the height of cynicism and humiliation of all norms of human morality," say local members of the FTU.

30.07.2015 U.S. pensioner detained in Minsk for ice-cream

He brought ice-cream to the people collecting signatures for Anatol Lyabedzka.

30.07.2015 CEC rejects procedure of transparent vote count

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee has received a response to its appeal to the Central Election Commission. In its address, the BHC asked to implement three simple solutions, which could considerably improve the transparency of the electoral process.

30.07.2015 Pavel Sapelka: The reasons why I was refused to visit places of detention are clearly outlined in my address to the Interior Ministry

Lawyer Pavel Sapelka has received a response to his request to the Department of Corrections of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The expert asked permission to visit penal facilities in order to monitor detention conditions.

30.07.2015 Court in Mahilioŭ dismisses case against editor of independent weekly

The Kastryčnicki District Court of Mahilioŭ has dismissed the administrative case against Ihar Barysau, editor-in-chief of the Naš Mahilioŭ independent newspaper, due to expiration of the two-month period for the imposition of an administrative penalty.

30.07.2015 Protesters, journalists detained in Homieĺ

On July 29, police officers detained Yauhen Hadar and his wife Aza, who tried to stage a picket in front of a department store in Homieĺ. They tried to draw public attention to the problems that exist in the construction sphere.

30.07.2015 FIDH and Viasna urge EU to consider conditions for meaningful dialogue on human rights with Belarus

On July 28, Brussels hosted the first round of a resumed human rights dialogue between Belarus and the European Union. On the eve of the meeting, FIDH and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" released a joint statement to the officials involved in the talks.

30.07.2015 Homieĺ Prosecutor’s Office warns Protestant pastor

The Homieĺ City Prosecutor's Office has issued an official warning to Siarhei Nikalayenka, pastor of the Protestant community "Transfiguration".

30.07.2015 Signatures collected for Lukashenka during working hours in Homieĺ school

Human rights defenders and journalists have received information that on 29 July the office of the head of school No. 27 in Homieĺ will gather signatures in support of Aliaksandr Lukashenka. According to a school employee, the staff were ordered to come to the headmaster's office with their passports.