News on the topic: torture
01.08.2013 Committee to Protect Children Established in Babruisk
Human rights activists, journalists and representatives of political movements formed a committee to protect children in connection with the recent kidnapping of the daughter of the Babruisk activist of the organizing committee of the party "Belarusian Christian Democracy" Viachaslau Sheleh. This decision was approved at their roundtable in Babruisk.
24.07.2013 Svetlahorsk resident seeks prosecution of policemen responsible for her son’s death
After a year of fruitless appeals submitted to various authorities, Mrs. Valiantsina Akulich came for help to the Human Rights Center "Viasna". After consulting Viasna’s lawyers, she sent to the prosecutor of Svetlahorsk district a complaint against the order of Senior Investigator at Svetlahorsk regional department of the Investigative Committee Uladzimir Piatochanka who refused to open a criminal investigation into the death of her son, Aliaksandr Akulich.
22.07.2013 Colony’s administration takes revenge at prisoners for telling about tortures
Prisoners of the penal colony in Navasady undergo pressure on the part of their wardens for spreading information on tortures.
16.07.2013 Niakliayeu to stand trial on July 25
The trial in the case of former presidential candidate Uladzimir Niakliaeu is scheduled for July 25. Charter97.org received this information from Niakliaeu.
10.07.2013 Former presidential candidate Uladzimir Niakliayeu initiated a criminal case against offenders
The hearings concerning the beating of presidential candidate Uladzimir Niakliayeu on the Election Day, 19 December 2010, will start at the Tsentralny District Court of Minsk on 10 July.
21.06.2013 3 policemen face charges after “physical violence” report in Krychau
Three employees of Krychau district police department are suspected of using physical violence in the premises of the police station, the Volny Horad independent newspaper reports.
18.06.2013 KGB and Interior Ministry launch probe into “physical violence” by Krychau police
According to the Krychau-based Volny Horad independent newspaper, the Interior Security Department of the Ministry of the Interior, as well as the KGB’s regional office, have launched an investigation into physical violence reportedly used by policemen at Krychau district police department.
08.06.2013 Kalinkavichy District Court punishes UCP activist Dzianis Rabianok with a fine
On 7 June the hearings on the administrative case against the activist of the United Civil Party Dzianis Rabianok finished at the Kalinkavichy District Court. He was found guilty of causing bodily injury (art.9.1 CAO) and punished with a fine of 1 million rubles.
24.04.2013 Law enforcement authorities stubbornly ignore complaints by beaten woman
More than two years have passed since Alesia Sadouskaya, a young mother from the town of Maladechna, was reportedly beaten by policemen. Mrs. Sadouskaya went through the courts of all levels – from the district court to the Supreme Court. She submitted statements to all levels of law enforcement agencies – district, regional and national. However, the authorities stubbornly ignore her statements and arguments.
12.04.2013 Public viewing and discussion on film "Torture in Belarus. Apocalypsis"
On 15 April the Lithuanian cinema festival "Inconvenient Cinema" and the Belarusian Human Rights House invite all interested persons to the opening view of a documentary about tortures and cases of cruel and inhumane treatment of citizens by law-enforcement officers, and the following discussion with the film producer and its heroes.
22.03.2013 BCD activist faces obstacles in proving torture report
As previously reported, on 21 April 2012 Slonim police detained local activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Volha Pansevich. During arrest, she was badly beaten and then forced into a car and taken to the police station, where she was charged with two administrative violations – disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The activist was held in the detention center for three days, where police officers reportedly tortured her, beating the woman and using the so-called “lastochka” (“swallow”), the Human rights activists against torture campaign reports.
16.03.2013 Pavel Seviarynets: “Police brutality is commonplace in Belarus...”
The International Day Against Police Brutality is celebrated worldwide on 15 March, but not in Belarus. It is not common to speak about police brutality. According to political prisoner Pavel Seviarynets, co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, we have as a commonplace, rather than the exception.
06.03.2013 Criminal case brought against five Lida policemen
A criminal case under Article 426, part 2 (abuse of authority or duty powers, committed by an official holding a responsible position, or which ensued grave consequences, or deliberate commitment by a duty official of actions which evidently exceed the rights and powers, given to them at service, accompanied with violence, suffering or insult of the victim, or the use of arms and police gear."
04.03.2013 Case of Shkurko brothers. Police looking for Andrei Bandarenka
The police started paying a special attention to the human rights activist after he distributed information about the alleged torture of the Shkurko brothers at Lida District Police Department.
15.02.2013 No criminal case on battery of Yuliya Stsiapanava
The Frunzenski District Police Department of Minsk refused to bring a criminal case concerning the assault and battery of the activist of the "European Belarus" Yuliya Stsiapanava.
