The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for May 2016

13.05.2016 GOLOS founder detained at Belarusian border

Liliya Shibanova, founder of the Russian Association of non-profit organizations “In Defense of Voters’ Rights GOLOS”, was detained last night by Belarusian border guards while crossing the Lithuanian border on a train to Moscow.

13.05.2016 No changes in public control over places of detention

Lawyer of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Pavel Sapelka has analyzed the latest developments in monitoring places of detention in Belarus.

12.05.2016 Amnesty International deplores the execution of Siarhei Ivanou

Amnesty International strongly condemns the execution of 22-year old Siarhei Ivanou in Belarus. He is the first person known to have been executed since November 2014, AI said in a statement.

11.05.2016 Activist held in ‘cycling case’ faces formal charges

Dzmitry Paliyenka, an activist detained after the brutal dispersal of the Critical Mass cycling event on April 29, has been officially charged with using violence against a police officer (Article 364 of the Criminal Code). He has also been transferred to the detention center in Žodzina.

11.05.2016 EU Condemns Belarus After Latest Execution

The European Union has expressed concern after news that Belarus, the only country in Europe still to apply capital punishment, had executed another prisoner.

06.05.2016 Belarus executes another death convict

Death convict Siarhei Ivanou has been executed, according to another death convict Siarhei Khmialeuski, who reportedly shared a cell with Ivanou on death row in jail No. 1 in Minsk.

06.05.2016 Statement on detention of Dzmitry Paliyenka

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" believes that the detention of civil society activist Dzmitry Paliyenka is a disproportionate measure applied as part of his prosecution over involvement in the events of April 29.

06.05.2016 Supreme Court confirms death sentence for Siarhei Khmialeuski

The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence handed down to Siarhei Khmialeuski after hearing today his appeal against a verdict by the Minsk Region Court.

05.05.2016 What changes to be introduced in conditions of serving sentences of restriction freedom and imprisonment?

The National Assembly is preparing to adopt a law "On amendments and additions to the Criminal Executive Code of the Republic of Belarus". Its adoption is expected to draw a line, among other things, under determining the duration of short-term visits provided for prisoners. These changes have been analyzed by Pavel Sapelka, an expert on the prison system and lawyer of the HRC "Viasna".

04.05.2016 Sport for Rights warns pop stars against performing at Formula One Grand Prix in Baku

Sport for Rights Campaign, of which FIDH is a member, sent letters to singers Pharrell Williams, Enrique Iglesias and Chris Brown ahead of their performance during the Formula One European Grand Prix in Baku.

04.05.2016 Amnesty International calls to commute death sentence to Henadz Yakavitski

"The Supreme Court of Belarus upheld the death sentence of Gennadii Yakovitskii [Henadz Yakavitski] on 4 April. He is now at imminent risk of execution," says Amnesty International in yesterday's urgent action press-release.

03.05.2016 One detainee in ‘cyclists’ case’ released, another still in custody

Stas Kanavalau, who was detained during a brutal dispersal of the Critical Mass cycling event on April 29, has been released from the detention facility. He has not faced formal charges yet, but was forced to sign a commitment to appear for interrogations as part of a criminal case opened following the incident.

03.05.2016 US Department of State congratulates Viasna on 20th anniversary

The United States Department of State has congratulated the Human Rights Center "Viasna" on the 20th anniversary of its founding.

02.05.2016 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: April 2016

Despite the fact that none of the unauthorized peaceful assemblies held during the month was intervened by the law enforcement authorities or forcibly stopped, the participants and organizers of these gatherings continued to be brought to administrative responsibility and faced heavy fines.

02.05.2016 Ales Bialiatski waiting for four months, Uladzimir Makei silent

Late last year, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) wrote to the Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Uladzimir Makei asking the official to respect the decision taken by the UN Human Rights Committee in the case of Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski. As yet, the minister has not given any response to FIDH’s appeal.