#FreeViasna: Weekly news digest on Viasna’s imprisoned human rights defenders
On September 31, #FreeViasna campaign of solidarity with the imprisoned Viasna members was launched. Here’s the latest news about them
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (OMCT-FIDH) expresses its deepest concern at the re-introduction of criminal liability for the involvement of individuals in unregistered NGOs, making members and leaders of civil society organizations liable to imprisonment for up to two years.
The Observatory also called on the Belarusian authorities to fully comply with their international human rights obligations, respect and protect the work of human rights defenders and human rights organizations, and, finally, to immediately and unconditionally release all human rights defenders who are currently arbitrarily detained in Belarus and stop administrative and criminal proceedings against them.
OMCT-FIDH: New amendment to the Criminal Code leaves no room for legal human rights activities
Valiantsin Stefanovich on the amendments to Constitution: “It would be amusement if it weren't so sad.”
In his letters, Valiantsin Stefanovich, a political prisoner and deputy chairman of the Human Rights Center Viasna, spoke about the alleged changes to the Constitution and the upcoming referendum:
“By the way, I read the proposed changes in a newspaper. It would be an amusement if it weren't so sad. They squeezed the fourth branch into the classic scheme of the three branches of government, which would be endowed with mega-powers and will control the other three, but would not be directly elected by the citizens. A ‘democracy’ without elections. An original path. If I were free, I would simply not go and take part in this [referendum].
What can I say, the Constitution will be even worse than the one we have now. <...> I would point out that [according to the proposals] ‘democracy in Belarus will be carried out on the basis of the ideology of the Belarusian state. And what that ideology is, and, most importantly, who formulates it and writes it? Democracy must be based on political pluralism and a diversity of ideologies. No ideology can be established as obligatory for all. This is a return to communist times. These are not the change that our people have demanded and are demanding.”
Valiantsin Stefanovich said that his detention had been extended until March 14. He notes that the investigation of the "Viasna case" may be completed by May.
Uladzimir Labkovich: “The aliens have decided that I should remain without letters”
Political prisoner Uladzimir Labkovich sent a letter from pre-trial detention center No. 1 dated January 25. He writes that he hardly receives letters, although he knows that his relatives, colleagues, and concerned people write to him. Uladzimir also says that he has been sleeping only two hours a day for two weeks (since January 11), and his head has been hurting incessantly for three months.
“Two weeks [have passed] since the last letter (since January 11). And so we stand and stare into the black hole and try to shout. But everything disappears in that hole: dreams, hopes, time, warmth.”
There was no news from Viasna chairman Ales Bialiatski last week.
Leanid Sudalenka: “Why do the authorities need all these bogus sentences, which will surely be overturned?”
In his letter from prison, Leanid Sudalenka, a human rights defender from Viasna in Homieĺ, recalls in detail the events of the day of his detention and shares his thoughts about the judicial system in Belarus on the example of his case.
“The question arises: Why do the authorities need all these bogus sentences, which will surely be overturned?" After all, even in the Soviet Union, when the Communist party was strong, the political repressed were rehabilitated. Now is a different time and I think it will happen sooner.
[...]
I suppose, once the fuss over the Constitution blew over, the question of political prisoners will have to be solved by the fall anyway. That's why I think all political prisoners will be at home by the fall.”
Tatsiana Lasitsa: “I might go to the colony in early or mid-February”
Viasna volunteer from Rečyca Tatsiana Lasitsa, a political prisoner, sent a letter from behind bars in which she said that she was getting ready to go to the penal colony:
“Will I be able to write letters there, will I have time... I don't know. They say there is an opportunity to call relatives, even via Skype or Viber.”
Tatiana is also grateful for the support in letters, parcels sent, and remittances.
The exact date of the trial against Marfa Rabkova, Andrei Čapiuk, and 9 other political prisoners will be announced soon. The case will be considered in Minsk City Court.
Unfortunately, there was no news from Marfa and Andrei last week.
