The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 21 Aug 2015

21.08.2015 Investigative Committee charges suspects in ‘graffiti case’

The Investigative Committee has officially charged youth activists Maksim Piakarski and Vadzim Zharomski under Part 2, Art. 339 of the Criminal Code, “hooliganism committed by a group of persons”, after they were detained for inscribing graffiti and smearing a billboard in Minsk.

21.08.2015 Siarhei Kaliakin quits election

Presidential contender Siarhei Kaliakin will not submit the collected signatures to the election commissions, but will call on citizens to vote against all.

21.08.2015 Protesters call to release graffiti makers

On August 20 there was held a picket to support graffiti makers next to the pretrial detention facility No. 1, Valadarskaha Str.

21.08.2015 Hrodna region: democratic parties nominate 54 persons to polling station election commissions

The democratic parties participating in the presidential election have nominated 54 contenders to the polling station election commissions of the Hrodna region.

21.08.2015 Human rights humanitarian mission completes first stage in Ukraine

For two and a half months, more than twenty Belarusian volunteers have helped the Station Kharkov initiative in receiving internally displaced persons from the conflict-hit areas in eastern Ukraine. The mission is expected to expand its activity to other Ukrainian cities.

21.08.2015 Homieĺ court fines pastor for illegal service

On August 20, Homieĺ’s Centraĺny District Court found Siarhei Nikalayenka, pastor of the Church “Transfiguration”, guilty of violating the rules of holding mass events (Part 2, Art. 23.34 of the Administrative Code). The priest was punished by a fine of 3.6 million for arranging a Sunday service on May 31, which was stopped by riot policemen.

21.08.2015 Fans wearing T-shirt with Chaser coat of arms detained at BATE vs Partizan match

The police detained a Belarusian fan wearing a T-shirt depicting the Chaser coat of arms at the match of the UEFA Champions League play-off.

21.08.2015 UN Human Rights Committee rules against Žlobin officials

At its 114th session (held on June 29 - July 24 in Geneva), the UN Human Rights Committee took a decision in the case of a representative of the Homieĺ Center for Strategic Litigation, human rights activist from Žlobin Valiantsin Yauzrezau.