The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for May 2017

31.05.2017 Analytical review of detention conditions and treatement of persons convicted of involvement in peaceful protests in March 2017

The peaceful demonstrators sentenced to administrative detention in Minsk were held in conditions that are contrary to the state’s obligations enshrined in the Constitution and international treaties. Such conditions of detention are a form of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment prohibited by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

31.05.2017 Human rights activist Pavel Levinau jailed for 15 days

Human rights defender Pavel Levinau was detained yesterday evening by police officers in Viciebsk. The activist will serve 15 days of administrative detention.

30.05.2017 “See you on the streets”: Kiai completes term as Rapporteur

Maina Kiai completed his term as United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association on April 30, after serving in the position for six years. His successor, Ms. Annalisa Ciampi of Italy, took up her functions as Special Rapporteur on May 1.

30.05.2017 Investigators extend pre-trial detention of another person charged in ‘rioting and armed group case’

The period of pre-trial detention of Viktar Maroz, former member of the White Legion organization, has been extended until late September, svaboda.org said, quoting the prisoner’s postcard.

25.05.2017 Activists harassed over solidarity with political prisoner

Former political prisoner Viachaslau Kasinerau and Viasna’s volunteer Anisiya Hurskaya will have to appear at the police department on suspicion of involvement in an illegal protest.

24.05.2017 Authorities extend pre-trial detention of 4 persons charged in ‘rioting and armed group case’

The authorities have extended the pre-trial detention of four persons involved in the case of preparing mass riots and forming an illegal armed group, Andrei Dundukou and Uladzimir Fiodarau.

23.05.2017 Belarus backsliding badly on human rights: U.N. report

The Belarus government has returned to a policy of large-scale repression, causing a dramatic deterioration in human rights, according to a report published on Monday for submission to next month's session of the U.N. Human Rights Council.

22.05.2017 Yauhen Paltarzhytski released on house arrest

Yauhen Paltarzhytski, a person involved in the case of preparing riots, has been released from pre-trial detention. Before the trial, he will remain under house arrest.

19.05.2017 ‘Tough and slow’: For the first time in 20 years Belarus reports to UN Human Rights Committee

On May 18, Minsk hosted a discussion of the country’s periodic report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The document has already been submitted by the Government of Belarus to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. The event was organized jointly by the UN Office in Belarus and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

18.05.2017 Mikalai Mikhalkou released. 17 persons remain in jail in ‘rioting and armed group case’

Mikalai Mikhalkou, leader of a Babrujsk-based club Patriot, has been released from custody.

18.05.2017 Brave: Amnesty International laucnhes new campaign to protect human rights defenders worldwide

281 people were killed in 2016 for defending human rights, up from 156 in 2015.

17.05.2017 #StopLGBTpersecution in Chechnya and Donbas

The human rights organizations Anti-Discrimination Center Memorial and the Center for Civil Liberties, FIDH call upon anyone who values human rights and cannot tolerate discriminatory violence to join the campaign #StopLGBTpersecution in CHECHNYA and DONBAS by sending photos, video addresses, and pictures in defense of the rights of people who are suffering now.

16.05.2017 Interior Ministry disputes moral suffering in prison death case

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has filed a cassation appeal to the Minsk City Court to challenge an earlier verdict by the Zavodski District Court, which ruled on March 23 that the mother and sister of Ihar Ptsichkin, inmate of Minsk prison No. 1 who died back in August 2013, should receive a total of BYN 30,000 in emotional distress damages.

11.05.2017 BAJ Urges State Bodies to Provide Info on Patriots’ Case

The Belarusian Association of Journalists filed a petition to the Investigative Committee, the General prosecutor’s office and the KGB, demanding to hold a press conference for all mass media and present official information concerning the investigation into the criminal cases widely discussed lately, the so-called cases of “Bely Legion” and the “case of patriots”.

10.05.2017 Viasna still views Ministry of Justice’s decision on registration as predictable

The relevance of the issue is due to the preparation of an alternative report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee currently done by a coalition of human rights organizations. The HRC experts included a request for clarification of the situation with the refusal to register the Human Rights Center "Viasna" in the list of issues to be addressed in the framework of Belarus’ reporting to the Committee.