The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

12.05.2014 Two Norwegian politicians who went to the Ice Hockey Championship put off the train and sent home

Two Norwegian politicians who went to the Ice Hockey Championship put off the train and sent home

12.05.2014 International human rights defenders: Ice Hockey World Championships 2014 in Minsk overshadowed by detentions

Human rights organisations appeal to International Ice Hockey Federation and Belarusian President Lukashenka

12.05.2014 European MP Marek Migalski not allowed to enter Belarus

Following the example of the head of the Swedish human rights organization Östgruppen Martin Uggla, member of European parliament Marek Migalski wasn’t allowed to enter Belarus as well.

08.05.2014 Hrodna: Stanislau Rachkel, activist of “Malady Front”, sentenced to 10 days of administrative arrest

On 8 May, administrative trials of member of “Malady front” Stanislau Rachkel and his friend were held in the Kastrychnicki district court of Hrodna. Judge Alena Toustsik-Samoila did not want to take into account the circumstances of the case and sentenced both young men to 10 days of administrative arrest allegedly for disorderly conduct.

08.05.2014 Administrative trials and persecution of civic activists continue in Minsk (updated)

The hearings on the administrative cases of four civic activists are now taking place in Minsk courts. Siarhei Matskoits, Nastassia Kukhto, Aliaksandr Arlou and Leanid Kulakou were detained the previous day and at night.

07.05.2014 When will the activists be released? (list of detained persons)

In general, the activists are being detained on purely fabricated, similar grounds such as “disorderly conduct" and “disobedience to the law-enforcement officials”. The courts conduct administrative trial proceedings formalistically, implicitly trust the law-enforcement officials and don’t take account of the evidence provided by the defense.

07.05.2014 Paliakou sentenced to administrative arrest

An activist of organizing committee for the creation of the National Bolshevik Party Alaksandr Paliakou, who was detained on 6 May in Minsk, is sentenced to administrative arrest at the second attempt.

07.05.2014 Fans of the capital’s football club “Partyzan” sentenced to 10 days of arrest

In the morning of May 6 four active fans of capital’s club “Partyzan” were detained. After the reports were drawn up on the Art. 17.1 of Administrative Code (disorderly conduct) the fans were brought to the Partyzanski district court of Minsk. All four activists Illya Palavik, Siarhei Pazniak, Kiryl Ermalovich and Kiryl Klykau were sentenced to 10 days of arrest by the judge Yury Garbatouski.

06.05.2014 Mass trials of activists of “Malady Front”

On 6 May, trials of activists of “Malady Front” organization registered in Czech Republic who were detained ahead of the Ice Hockey World Championship will be held.

05.05.2014 Human rights defenders informed the United Nations about arbitrary detentions ahead of Ice Hockey World Championship - 2014

Human Rights Center “Viasna” informed UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the preventive detentions of Belarusian citizens ahead of Ice Hockey World Championship - 2014.