The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for December 2015

30.12.2015 Student fined over ‘self-immolation’ performance

The Court of Minsk’s Centraĺny district has fined Mikhail Kauko 3.6 mln rubles for setting his arms on fire during a performance staged outside the City Hall on December 25. He was found guilty of illegal demonstrating.

24.12.2015 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dear friends, colleagues and associates, May the year of 2016 bring many pleasant moments and joyous events. We wish you all good health and well-being, life-affirming energy and inspiration, as well as success in everything you do! May your dreams come true! Let us be optimistic and united!

23.12.2015 Freelance journalist detained in Karma

Freelance journalist Kanstantsin Zhukouski has been briefly detained by police officers in the town of Karma, Homieĺ region, after a report from a local official at the executive committee’s ideology department. As a result, the journalist spent three o'clock in the police station.

23.12.2015 Minsk court fines student over protest

Pavel Siarhei, an activist who was involved in a protest staged by the students of the Belarusian State University on December 2, has been fined 4.5 mln on charges of illegal demonstrating (Part 1, Art. 23.34 of the Administrative Code).

22.12.2015 Hrodna Regional Court predictably rejects activist’s appeal

The Hrodna Regional Court has predictably rejected a cassation appeal by activist Yury Hlebik, who tried to challenge a decision by the Śvislač District Court of November 19. The activist was fined 4.5 mln rubles for taking part in a memorial event held on October 31.

21.12.2015 UN HRC registers complaint by death convict’s mother

The UN Human Rights Committee has registered an individual communication submitted by Volha Hrunova, the mother of Aliaksandr Hrunou, who was executed in 2014. The death convict’s mother appeals against a violation of her son’s right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment and the right to a fair trial.

Customs experts find no signs of extremism in <em>Viasna</em>’s book

18.12.2015 Customs experts find no signs of extremism in Viasna’s book

In March 2015, the Ašmiany customs department took about 40 copies of the book “Human Rights Situation in Belarus. 2014”, which was published by the Human Rights Center "Viasna". The books were carried by human rights activist Ales Dzerhachou.

17.12.2015 Inside Belarus's 'rehab prisons' for alcoholics – in pictures

“Photographer Irina Popova’s new book documents her trip inside a controversial Soviet-era workhouse for substance abusers – where most inmates get drunk to celebrate their release,” says The Guardian in a photo report about the country’s LTPs (activity therapy centers).

17.12.2015 Police charge another participant in students’ protest

Pavel Siarhei, an activist who was involved in a protest staged by the students of the Belarusian State University on December 2, will stand trial on charges of participating in an unauthorized demonstration (Part 1, Art. 23.34 of the Administrative code).

17.12.2015 Term Of Detention In Remand Prison For Tajik Activist Arrested In Brest Extended

The term of remand prison detention for the activist of the Tajik organisation 24 Group Shabnam Khudoydodova detained in Brest has been extended for 2 months.

16.12.2015 Russian citizen sentenced to death in UAE, awaiting extradition in Belarus

Pyotr Ivanik, a Russian national, who has been sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates, is currently awaiting extradition in jail No. 1 in Minsk, according to representatives of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty in Belarus”.

16.12.2015 UN criticizes Belarus for executing Pavel Sialiun

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has published its Views adopted in the case of Pavel Sialiun, who was sentenced to death in Belarus in June 2013. The Committee concludes that Pavel Sialiun's right to life under article 6 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was violated, since “the author was sentenced to death after an unfair trial.”

15.12.2015 UN Human Rights Committee rules in favor of Viciebsk activist

The UN Human Rights Committee has published a decision in the case of Taras Surhan, resident of Viciebsk, whose rights under Part 2 of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights were violated by the Belarusian government.

15.12.2015 Final analytical report on the results of monitoring the 2015 presidential elections by the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections"

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".

11.12.2015 Activists involved in ‘graffiti case’ face final charges

Maksim Piakarski, Vadzim Zharomski, Yaraslau Ulyianenkau, and Viachaslau Kasinerau, have been invited to the Investigative Committee’s Minsk office to face final charges in the so-called “graffiti case”.