The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2018

28.04.2018 Picks of the week

The country’s prisons continue to hold two political prisoners.

27.04.2018 Report on the monitoring of "Charnobyl Way" action on April 26, 2018 in Minsk

The traditional procession "Charnobyl Way", dedicated to the 32nd anniversary of the Chernobyl APP accident, was held on April 26, 2018 in Minsk.

27.04.2018 Alternative report presented to UN Committee against Torture

On April 26, a delegation of human rights activists from Belarus presented their alternative report within the 63rd session of the United Nations Committee against Torture.

25.04.2018 HRDs to present alternative report at 63rd session of the UN Committee against Torture

On 27 April, the Republic of Belarus will present its report on the implementation of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment at the 63rd session of the UN Committee against Torture. Since the ratification of the Convention in 1987, the country has reported to the Committee for five times.

23.04.2018 Government could demonstrate will for change in fight against torture

On April 20, Pavel Sapelka, lawyer of the Human Rights Center "Viasna", and Aleh Hulak, chairman of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, took part in the expert-level consultations entitled “The practice of interaction with human rights treaty bodies.”

20.04.2018 EU Lawmakers Deplore Harassment Of Independent Belarusian Media

The European Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a resolution deploring the harassment of independent media before and after the February 2018 local elections in Belarus.

19.04.2018 Time to act towards true abolition of the death penalty, say HRDs

On April 18, Minsk hosted a round table entitled “Legal aspects of the abolition of the death penalty in Belarus”. The event was organized by the Council of Europe and involved members of the Belarusian Parliament’s lower chamber and representatives of NGOs, including the Human Rights Center “Viasna”.

13.04.2018 Picks of the week

On April 11 and 12, the Court of the Brest region cancelled heavy fines earlier imposed on Belsat reporter Ales Liauchuk and local vloggers Aliaksandr Kabanau and Siarhei Piatrukhin. The fines were ordered by the Pinsk District Court. All of them were convicted of “violating media legislation”.

12.04.2018 Belarus still only executioner in Europe and Central Asia

“In Europe and Central Asia, Belarus was the only country to execute people. The country carried out at least two executions in 2017; at least four new death sentences were imposed,” Amnesty International said in its Annual Report on the death penalty.

07.04.2018 Human rights activists present alternative report on torture

On April 5, a human rights coalition presented its alternative report on the implementation by Belarus of the UN Convention against Torture.

03.04.2018 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: March 2018

Despite the Minsk city executive committee’s permission to hold a rally and concert in the capital on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the BNR independence, the city authorities banned a march organized by a number of opposition politicians.