News on the topic: human rights defenders
08.12.2015 Peaceful protesters convicted in Minsk, trial of observers put off
The Court of Minsk’s Maskoŭski District heard yesterday the administrative cases of opposition activists Uladzimir Niakliayeu, Pavel Seviarynets, Maksim Viniarski, Anton Zhylko, Stanislau Paulinkovich, and Andrei Davidovich. All of them were accused under Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code for taking part in a protest dedicated to the anniversary of the 1996 referendum held on November 24.
07.12.2015 Human rights organizations of Belarus recognize Mikhail Zhamchuzhny political prisoner
We do not rule out that there certain illegal behavior by Mikhail Zhamchuzhny could be the result of provocation of crime: incitement, inducement, encouragement, directly or indirectly, to commit unlawful acts.
07.12.2015 Valiantsin Stefanovich receives national human rights award
Valiantsin Stefanovich, deputy chairman of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, has been awarded the National Human Rights Prize during a ceremony traditionally held on the eve of the International Human Rights Day, December 10.
04.12.2015 Human rights defenders to stand trial for observing protest
Siarhei Kaspiarovich and Natallia Satsunkevich, observers from the Human Rights Center "Viasna" and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, received today text messages from the Maskoŭsk District Court of Minsk inviting them to the hearing of their administrative cases.
04.12.2015 On important elements of UN resolution on human rights defenders
The revised draft resolution “Recognizing the role of human rights defenders and the need for their protection,” which was put on a vote at the General Assembly on November 25, has been finally published on the UN website.
03.12.2015 Observatory condemns charges against human rights defenders in Belarus
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Belarus.
02.12.2015 Human rights activist Sudalenka faces charges of tax evasion
Maryna Baryskina, deputy head of the Homieĺ district tax inspection, has sent human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka summons to appear on December 7 in order to stand an administrative trial. He is accused of concealing 500 rubles received for working with the trade union and 387,024 rubles of dividends received on the shares (about 20 Euros).
01.12.2015 Department of Corrections should not forget about country’s international obligations
The Department of Corrections has responded to a petition of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, which requested information about the conditions of detention of Andrei Bandarenka, former head of the Platform Innovation human rights NGO. However, the request was left without consideration on the merits in the interests of Bandarenka.
30.11.2015 Human rights defenders and their rights: National legislation and international instruments
Article 6 of the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which was adopted by the General Assembly’s Resolution 53/144 of 9 December 1998, defines the rights of human rights defenders in the field of searching and disseminating information on human rights and fundamental freedoms.
27.11.2015 Lawtrend writes to UN Special Rapporteurs about pressure on journalists and human rights defenders
At least 12 people were charged with illegal demonstrating as a result of a protest held on November 24 in central Minsk. The Legal Transformation Center Lawtrend has prepared a communication, which was joined by the Human Rights Center "Viasna" and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, to complain about the incident.
26.11.2015 Russia: NGOs officially portrayed as “foreign agents”, “anti-constitutional” and “anti-Russian”, what next?
The “war” against the human rights movement in Russia is reaching a new stage. While more than a hundred NGOs have been officially labelled as “foreign agents” since June 2013, they are now being targeted for so-called “anti-constitutional” and “anti-Russian” activities - accusations reminiscent of the Soviet era repressive rhetoric.
26.11.2015 Report on the results of monitoring of a mass event on November 24 in Minsk dedicated to the anniversary of the referendum of 1996
The mass event on November 24, 2015 was monitored fully and in person by six observers who had been trained and marked accordingly.
25.11.2015 Ales Bialiatski: American politicians and activist interested in Belarus
Head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski has returned from a working visit to Washington, where he met with members of Congress, senators, officials of the State Department and non-governmental organizations based in the U.S.
17.11.2015 Viasna: Harassment of Andrei Bandarenka in prison linked to his earlier human rights activities
The Human Rights Center "Viasna" has written to Siarhei Daroshka, head of the Interior Ministry’s Department of Corrections, to highlight the conditions of detention of Andrei Bandarenka, former leader of the Platform Innovation NGO.
11.11.2015 State Border Committee Chairman: “Attempts to politicize searches are means of exerting pressure on officials”
Siarhei Maltsau, Chairman of the State Border Committee, has published a post on the department’s official website in response to the complaints of citizens in the framework of a campaign “Stop the outrage on the border: Support human rights defenders”.
