The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for June 2016

15.06.2016 Death Row Secrets. Part 1

Representatives of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty in Belarus” have gathered memories and testimonies of former prison staff and former inmates, their family members, part of which has been used to prepare this publication.

14.06.2016 Viasna demands respect for procedural rights of Eduard Palchys

Viasna demands respect for all the procedural safeguards and rights in relation to Eduard Palchys, who is currently held in custody in the detention center in Žodzina. In particular, he should be allowed to see his lawyer and be provided with appropriate conditions of detention and treatment.

13.06.2016 Belarus still on agenda at UN Human Rights Council

The 32th session of the UN Human Rights Council opened today in Geneva. The agenda of the meeting includes the presentation of the report of the Special Rapporteur on Belarus and a vote on the extension of his mandate.

13.06.2016 Analytical weekly report on the results of observation: June 7-12

The Belarusian authorities only took into account a few recommendations made by the OSCE ODIHR and the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" following the observation of the previous campaign.

10.06.2016 Center for Women’s Rights Opens in Belarus

June 13, 2016 is the day of launch for the social-informational “Center for Promotion of Women’s Rights – Her Rights”. The aim of the non-commercial organization is to enhance strength of women and girls through elimination of gender discrimination and promotion of their rights and interests.

08.06.2016 Join urgent action of Amnesty International to abolish death penalty in Belarus

Since the start of the year, there have been the third death sentence handed down and one sentence executed. Urge Belarus authorities to impose a moratorium on death penalty, to ensure full information to the public and families of the condemned and advocate respect for the right to life.

08.06.2016 Activists Demand to Stop Pressure on Andrei Bandarenka

Human rights defenders from Viasna appealed to the Minister of Home Affairs denouncing severe pressure on the prisoner Andrei Bandarenka, former head of the cultural and enlightening establishment Platforma Innovation.

08.06.2016 Seminar on Rights of People with Disabilities Held in Kharkiv

A joint seminar “Rights of people with disabilities and methods of advocacy” was given in Kharkiv by Belarusian and Ukrainian human rights activists.

07.06.2016 Preventive Supervision Imposed on Pavel Vinahradau

June 7, the Maskouski district court of Minsk imposed preventive supervision on civil activist Pavel Vinahradau. Meantime, the real term of supervision should close on September 14, the date for expungement of the conviction.

07.06.2016 Case of Lapitski to Be Reviewed

On June 3, the Minsk City Court considered the appeal of 80-year old Aliaksandr Lapitski, who had been found guilty of insulting public officials and sentenced to forced psychiatric treatment. The appeal court ruled that the case should be reviewed.

07.06.2016 People of Spring: 20 Years of Human Rights Watch

In its festive 20th year, the Human Rights Center Viasna launches the website about human rights defenders in the regions – Liudzi Viasny (People of Spring).

07.06.2016 Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections launch observation of parliamentary elections

Bearing in mind the importance of independent assessment, we, representatives of Belarusian human rights organizations – the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center Viasna – start monitoring of the elections of deputies to the Chamber of Representatives.

06.06.2016 Parliamentary Elections to Take Place on September 11

The decision on holding the elections to the Chamber of Representatives was enforced by the edicts of the President of Belarus signed on June 6.

03.06.2016 Viasna demands to stop political persecution of activist Pavel Vinahradau

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" urges the authorities to immediately stop the proceedings aimed at establishing preventive supervision against Pavel Vinahradau.

03.06.2016 Pavel Vinahradau facing another preventive supervision

Police may bring back preventive supervision over the activist Pavel Vinahradau. the supervision was introduced after his release and canceled a year ago. Incidentally, during the surveillance period, Pavel was forced to leave Minsk for Berazino.