The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for December 2015

11.12.2015 Video blogger detained by KGB in Mahilioŭ

Yauhen Hlushkou, who runs a video blog about local events in Mahilioŭ, has been detained when filming a memorial sign outside the KGB city office a week before the official opening.

10.12.2015 Criminal Charge Against Graffiti Artist Maxim Piakarski Reduced

Now Piakarski is accused under Article 341 of the Criminal Code “Desecration of facilities and property damage.”

10.12.2015 Former Political Prisoner Yury Rubtsou Applied For Asylum In Germany

Yury Rubtsou is waiting for the decision on political asylum in Nuremberg.

10.12.2015 December 10 – Human Rights Day

This year's Human Rights Day is devoted to the launch of a year-long campaign for the 50th anniversary of the two International Covenants on Human Rights: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

10.12.2015 Rights Activist Leyla Yunus Freed From Jail In Azerbaijan

Prominent Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus has been freed from prison on grounds of her deteriorating health, although she and her fellow activist husband both face treason charges in a separate case.

09.12.2015 Human rights defenders call on government to take urgent restorative measures

We, representatives of the human rights organizations in Belarus, guided by an interest in the development of the Belarus-EU relations and the promotion and protection of human rights in the country, call on the government to enforce in the near future the following measures of restorative nature, which do not require legislative changes.

09.12.2015 Ales Bialiatski helps Amnesty International “write for rights” (video)

Amnesty International’s Flemmish office has produced a series of videos featuring former prisoner of conscience from Belarus Ales Bialiatski, whose release was made possible thanks to global solidarity campaigns.

09.12.2015 Svislač court fines human rights defender over memorial protest

The Svislač District Court has fined human rights activist Uladzimir Khilmanovich 7.2 million rubles on charges of participating in unauthorized assembly held on October 31.

08.12.2015 Tax authorities drop charges against human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka

The tax inspection in Homieĺ has closed an administrative case against local human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka. The decision refers to the “insignificance” of the offense.

08.12.2015 Peaceful protesters convicted in Minsk, trial of observers put off

The Court of Minsk’s Maskoŭski District heard yesterday the administrative cases of opposition activists Uladzimir Niakliayeu, Pavel Seviarynets, Maksim Viniarski, Anton Zhylko, Stanislau Paulinkovich, and Andrei Davidovich. All of them were accused under Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code for taking part in a protest dedicated to the anniversary of the 1996 referendum held on November 24.

07.12.2015 Human rights organizations of Belarus recognize Mikhail Zhamchuzhny political prisoner

We do not rule out that there certain illegal behavior by Mikhail Zhamchuzhny could be the result of provocation of crime: incitement, inducement, encouragement, directly or indirectly, to commit unlawful acts.

07.12.2015 Valiantsin Stefanovich receives national human rights award

Valiantsin Stefanovich, deputy chairman of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, has been awarded the National Human Rights Prize during a ceremony traditionally held on the eve of the International Human Rights Day, December 10.

07.12.2015 Federica Mogherini To Opposition Leaders: I Share Your Assessment Of Situation In Belarus

The EU High for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has answered the letter of Andrei Sannikov, Ales Bialiatski and Mikalai Statkevich.

07.12.2015 Freelance journalist complains to UN Human Rights Committee

Larysa Shchyrakova, a freelance journalist and representative of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) in Homieĺ, has complained to the UN Human Rights Committee about the violations of her right to receive and disseminate information (freedom of expression), and the right to defense in court (a fair trial).

07.12.2015 Legal proceedings in jail death case deadlocked

Despite the fact that the judges have overturned a number of decisions by the Svietlahorsk district office of the Investigative Committee, they generally support the investigation in the death of Aliaksandr Akulich, disregarding the undeniable arguments of human rights defenders.