The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for May 2018

31.05.2018 PACE rapporteurs condemn two recent executions in Belarus

Yves Cruchten (Luxembourg, SOC), General Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the abolition of the death penalty, and Andrea Rigoni (Italy, ALDE), former PACE rapporteur on the situation in Belarus, have strongly condemned the execution of Aliaksei Mikhalenia and Viktor Liotau, which reportedly took place in secret in mid-May.

30.05.2018 EU deplores two new executions in Belarus

Statement by the Spokesperson on the application of the death penalty in Belarus

30.05.2018 Supreme Court confirms death sentences for Zhylnikau and Sukharko

The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences earlier handed down to Aliaksandr Zhylnikau and Viachaslau Sukharko for the murder of three people. The judgment was pronounced after the court completed hearing Zhylnikau’s appeal, while Sukharko refused to challenge the verdict.

30.05.2018 CoE: Capital punishment has no place in Europe

Spokesperson of the Secretary General: Statement by the Spokesperson on reported executions in Belarus

29.05.2018 EU ‘actively engaged with Belarus on death penalty’, says Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy

In 2017, the EU actively engaged with the Belarusian authorities on the death penalty and took action to raise awareness, as Belarus remained the only country in Europe that still applied the death penalty, Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy said.

29.05.2018 Two more executions reported in Belarus

Two death convicts, Aliaksei Mikhalenia and Viktar Liotau, have been recently executed, according to Viachaslau Sukharko, another death row inmate whose appeal was heard today at the Supreme Court.

25.05.2018 Young Front activist under preventive supervision for six months

Uladzimir Yaromenak, activist of the Young Front opposition group and former defendant in the White Legion criminal case, has been placed under preventive supervision for the period of six months, Euroradio said.

24.05.2018 Death penalty: Belarus must be accountable to someone

Belarus is the last country in Europe to apply the death penalty. It often does so in secret.

22.05.2018 Online petition demands inquiry into interior ministry's "homophobic" statement

Activists have launched an online petition demanding that the Prosecutor General's Office look into what they describe as the interior ministry's "homophobic and discriminatory" comments about the UK embassy's show of support for the LGBT community.

19.05.2018 Repeal of Article 193.1 is half measure, say HRDs

The Council of Ministers submitted to the Parliament a draft law “On amendments to certain Codes of the Republic of Belarus”. Among other things, the bill provides for the removal of Article 193.1 (“Illegal organization of activities of a public association, religious organization or foundation or participation in their activities”) from the Criminal Code.

17.05.2018 Complete isolation: Mikhail Zhamchuzhny under unprecedented mail restrictions

For over a month, political prisoner Mikhail Zhamchuzhny has been unable to receive or send letters, according to a reliable source.

17.05.2018 Goodbye, Article 193-1!

The National Legal Internet Portal has published a draft bill on amendments to the Criminal Code, which was prepared by the Council of Ministers. According to the draft, it is planned to repeal Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code, which provides for criminal responsibility for activity on behalf of unregistered organizations.

15.05.2018 The secret executions in Europe's 'last dictatorship'

When the guards come, these inmates never know if it is for the last time. On death row in Belarus, the only country in Europe that still uses the death penalty, they are never told when they will be executed. And when it happens, it is all kept as a state secret.

15.05.2018 Save human rights defender who took over murdered Natalia Estemirova’s work

In a video released today, daughter of Natalia Estemirova, murdered in 2009 for her human rights work in Chechnya, calls FIFA and the international community to take action in saving Oyub Titiev.

10.05.2018 REP leaders face final charges

On May 8, leaders of the Belarusian trade union REP Henadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik faced final charges of large-scale tax evasion (part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code).