The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

18.01.2023 Viasna trial through the eyes of a spectator: Prosecution evidence is questionable and security measures unprecedented

Spectator at court and human rights activist Alena Masliukova share their impressions of the process.

16.01.2023 Trial against Viasna: Days 6 and 7

Witnesses refuse to come to court, Stefanovic claims that they were pressurized in pre-trial detention, and Labkovich asks for medics once again.

16.01.2023 Viasna’s lawyer Pavel Sapelka comments on the trial of his colleagues: "This is a crackdown on human rights defenders in the guise of justice"

Since 5 January, the Leninski District Court of Minsk has been housing proceedings in the Viasna Case brought against Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich, and Uladzimir Labkovich. We have discussed the proceedings with our colleague, Viasna’s lawyer Pavel Sapelka.

13.01.2023 Testimonies by Secret Witnesses and Interrogation of Customs Officers: Fourth and Fifth Court Sessions in Viasna Case

On January 11 and 12, the trial of the Viasna case continued in the Lieninsky District Court of Minsk. The defendants Ales Bialiatski, the chairman of the Viasna Human Rights Center and a Nobel laureate, his deputy Valiantsin Stefanovic, and the coordinator of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign Uladzimir Labkovich are being tried according to Part 4 of Art. 228 (‘Smuggling by an organized group’) and Part 2 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (‘Financing of group actions that grossly violate public order’). The human rights defender Zmitser Salauyou, who had to leave Belarus due to criminal prosecution, is also being tried in absentia. The infamous Judge Maryna Zapasnik is considering the case, and Prosecutor Aliaksandr Karol supports the state prosecution. We will tell you what happened at the fourth and fifth court sessions in the high-profile case against the human rights defenders of Viasna.

10.01.2023 Trial against Viasna leadership: Day 3

Uladzimir Labkovich asks for medical help. Rights defenders reiterate their demands to take off the handcuffs.

09.01.2023 Human rights defender and journalist Yekaterina Yanshina jailed for 15 days for covering the Viasna trial

Ten human rights organization call for the end of the judicial harassment against her, and all other human rights defenders in the country.

09.01.2023 UN expresses grave concerns with trials in Belarus

The organization calls to drop the charges against Viasna members and immediately release them.

06.01.2023 Trial against Viasna leadership: Day 2

The court proceeds with questioning independent journalists.

05.01.2023 Trial against Viasna leadership: Day 1

Human rights defenders demand the trial in the Belarusian language and plead not guilty.

05.01.2023 Viasna members go on trial

Among them Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialitski

27.12.2022 FIDH urges Belarus authorities to stop prosecution of Viasna members

In advance of the trial, the FIDH Observatory demands release and calls for solidarity actions in support of the imprisoned human rights defenders in Belarus.

23.12.2022 #FreeViasna: Latest news about jailed Viasna human rights defenders

Bilalitski's wife received the Nobel Peace Prize award for him, the Viasna trial date is determined, and other news about jailed rights defenders.

22.12.2022 Viasna trial to begin on January 5

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Uladzimir Labkovich are in the dock. Zmitser Salauyou will be tried in absentia.