The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for September 2015

30.09.2015 Belarus to join UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Now the state has officially committed itself to provide full participation in civic, political, economic, social, and cultural life of the society for the disabled.

30.09.2015 Pivotal moment for democracy in Kyrgyzstan: defenders facing increasing pressure

Preliminary findings of a fact-finding mission on the conditions and vulnerabilities of human rights defenders and organisations.

30.09.2015 Minsk court fines four opposition politicians over illegal protests

The Court of Minsk’s Centraĺny district heard today the administrative charges brought against former presidential candidate and ex-political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich, as well as UCP leader Anatol Liabedzka, former leader of Tell the Truth campaign Uladzimir Niakliayeu, and opposition activist Mikalai Kazlou.

29.09.2015 Haradok: Observers allege rigged info on requests for home voting

Leanid Haravy, an observer in the town of Haradok, Viciebsk region, has noted controversial trends concerning local voters who wish to vote at home.

29.09.2015 Homieĺ: Observers complain about illegally produced campaign flyers

Leanid Sudalenka and Anatol Paplauny, BHC observers in Homieĺ, have written to the CEC and the Regional Election Commission to complain about the distribution of campaign materials in the city’s Saviecki district that contained signs of violations of the law.

29.09.2015 Valiantsin Stefanovich: No systemic changes in the field of human rights

On September 28, the OSCE ODIHR Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw hosted a side event with participation of Belarusian non-governmental organizations: the Assembly of Democratic NGOs, the Center for Legal Transformation Lawtrend, as well as campaigns “Human Rights Defenders For Free Elections” and “Right To Choose”.

29.09.2015 Activists involved in ‘graffiti case’ complain about offensive publication by Investigative Committee

The defendants and suspects in the so-called ‘graffiti case’ have written to the head of the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor General’s Office to complain about a publication on the website of the Investigative Committee under the title “Investigative Committee continues investigation of criminal case on hooliganism and damage to property in the capital.”

29.09.2015 Lyudmila Alexeyeva awarded Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has awarded its annual Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize to veteran Russian activist Lyudmila Alekseyeva.

28.09.2015 Baranavičy: 30 football fans detained in picket in support of Tatsiana Karatkevich and against Russian military bases

On September 27, opposition activist Ryhor Hryk in Baranavičy staged a picket in support of presidential candidate Tatsiana Karatkevich and against the Russian military bases. The protest was held under a white-red-white flag and a Ukrainian flag, as well as a flag of the independent trade union of Radio Electronic Industry (REP).

28.09.2015 Analytical report on the results of weekly observation: September 21-27

Observation of the election of the President of Belarus is carried out by activists of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" in the framework of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections".

27.09.2015 Uladzimir Labkovich: We insist on reforming opaque vote count

On September 25, the ninth working meeting of the OSCE Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw raised the problem of democratic institutions, including democratic elections. Uladzimir Labkovich, coordinator of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections", presented the position of Belarusian human rights defenders on the current presidential election.

27.09.2015 Baranavičy: Opposition activist fired over wearing prison uniform at work

On September 24, an activist from Baranavičy, Ryhor Hryk, was once again fired from his job, this time as a loader in one of the city’s private shops, after he came to work wearing striped prison clothes. The shop was closed for two hours, and the police were called. As a result, the activist was dismissed for alleged absence from work on Saturday, September 19, when Ryhor Hryk was on vacation.

27.09.2015 Homieĺ: Students and teachers again forced to attend meeting with Lukashenka’s trustee

On September 25, the Homieĺ-based Turyst Hotel hosted a meeting with Siarhei Biaspalau, a trustee of presidential candidate Aliaksandr Lukashenka and editor-in-chief of the local government-run newspaper Homieĺskaja Praŭda.

25.09.2015 Andrei Paluda: It's time to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty in Belarus

On September 25, the OSCE Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw hosted an exchange of views on the abolition of the death penalty.

25.09.2015 Schoolchildren forced to join BRSM in Salihorsk

Local representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee in Salihorsk have received information about cases of coercion and threats to students by the school administration in an attempt to force them join the pro-government youth organization Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM).