The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2016

14.04.2016 Freelance journalist detained in Svietlahorsk

Freelance journalist Kanstantsin Zhukouski was detained in Svietlahorsk last afternoon as he was filming a video outside the district executive committee building.

13.04.2016 Citizen Sentenced to Forced Medical Treatment for Insult of President and Judges

On April 12, the Frunzenski district court of Minsk found Aliaksandr Lapitski guilty according to articles 368, 369 and 361 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (public insult against the president, public officials and judges while performing professional duties).

13.04.2016 EU again urges Belarus to join global moratorium on the death penalty

"The European Union urges Belarus, the only country in Europe which still applies capital punishment, to respect the right to life for each of its citizens and to join a global moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards its full abolition," EU's Extrenal Action Spokesperson said in a statement.

13.04.2016 Viasna calls to repeal criminal defamation

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" insists on the decriminalization of acts committed by Aliaksandr Lapitski, and calls for the termination of criminal prosecution for defamation offenses, considering as a first step the abolition of Articles 367, 368, 369, 369-1, 391 of the Criminal Code.

12.04.2016 Court Denies Registration to Mother's Movement 328

Activists will appeal against the decision in the Supreme Court of Belarus.

08.04.2016 Minsk courts fine more peaceful protesters

The Centraĺny District Court of Minsk heard yesterday 16 administrative cases against the participants of a picket staged near the Russian embassy in support of Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko on March 21, as well as those involved in the Freedom Day demonstration on March 25.

08.04.2016 Supreme Court confirms death sentence for Henadz Yakavitski

The Supreme Court’s criminal board has upheld the death sentence handed down to Henadz Yakavitski on January 5 for the murder of his partner.

07.04.2016 One More Fine under Dubious Arguments Imposed on Larysa Shchyrakova

On April 5, judge Tamara Zastaunetskaya imposed a fine of 5 million 250 thousand rubles (260 USD) on Larysa Shchyrakova for her report on malfunctioning gas equipment.

06.04.2016 Journalists detained in Naroŭlia

On April 3, police officers in Naroŭlia detained freelance journalist Ales Zaleuski, as well as his TV crew, and the person they were interviewing.

06.04.2016 Amnesty International issues annual review of the death penalty worldwide

“2015 saw a dramatic rise in the number of people executed – at least 1,634 – the highest recorded by Amnesty International since 1989,” says AI’s annual report on the death penalty in 2015.

04.04.2016 11 activists charged over anti-Russian protest

Eleven people have been charged with illegal picketing for staging a protest outside the Russian embassy in Minsk on April 2. The picket was expected to highlight Russia’s imperial policies on so-called Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia.

04.04.2016 Swedish MFA’s State Secretary meets with Belarusian human rights activists

Representatives of Belarusian human rights organizations met on Thursday with Ms. Annika Söder, State Secretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, who headed a delegation on an official visit to Belarus.

04.04.2016 Viasna urges authorities to stop persecution of citizens for exercising freedom of peaceful assembly and expression

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" is ready to provide recommendations and proposals to the government bodies possessing the right of legislative initiative.

01.04.2016 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: March 2016

In March, there were 43 cases of administrative prosecution for taking part or organizing unsanctioned mass events.

01.04.2016 Valiantsin Stefanovich: Sounds like Yarmoshyna plays cunning

Representatives of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" received a response from the Central Election Commission to their proposals on the implementation of the OSCE ODIHR recommendations, which is contrary to previous statements made by Lidziya Yarmoshyna in the media.