The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

17.01.2014 Astravets District Court predictably sides with officials

On January 16, Astravets District Court continued to hear a complaint by civil society activist Mikalai Ulasevich against the actions of local executive committee, who did not allow him to hold a picket on December 7 last year to demand “justice for corrupt officials”. As a result, the court dismissed the activist's complaint.

16.01.2014 Chairman of Homel Regional Court amazes with illiteracy

Mazyr human rights activist Uladzimir Tseliapun received a reply to his appeal from the Chairman of the Homel Regional Court Siarhei Shautsou. In December 2013, the chairman of the court received citizens in Mazyr, and the local human rights activist asked him some important questions.

14.01.2014 Long break in trial in Astravets

January 13 held another hearing on the complaint of a civil society activist Mikalai Vlasevich against the actions of Astravets District Executive Committee, who didn't to allow him to hold a picket on December 7, 2013 under the slogan "Let's bring the corrupt to justice!" took place in Astravets.

14.01.2014 UCP leader Anatol Liabedzka sentenced to a fine

10-05 a.m. At the entrance of the courthouse the police inspected the visitors' belongings and were reluctant to let anybody in without seeing a subpoena. About 20 people gathered in the courtroom. The case was considered by Judge Kiryl Polulekh. Anatol Liabedzka answered the questions in Belarusian.

13.01.2014 Baranavichy activist Viktar Syrytsa appeals fine for Milavidy festival at Supreme Court

On January 13 social activist Viktar Syrytsa filed a complaint with the Supreme Court against the decision of Judge of the Baranavichy City and District Court Katsiaryna Hruda and Judge of the Brest Regional Court Natallia Surma on the case of Milavidy festival.

13.01.2014 Anatol Liabedzka: detained, punched in kidneys and taken to Kurapaty

The leader of the United Civil Party spent seven hours at a police station. He was detained in the morning on January 12 and set free only at 6 p.m. He was taken outside Minsk. Policemen took the politician to Kurapaty memorial area and then to the city crematory. Only after that he was set free in the city district Viasnianka, close to his home.

10.01.2014 Homel: fine for anti-alcoholization picket

January 9 Tsentralny District Court Judge Alena Tsalkova issued a verdict on the administrative case against the coordinator of the civil initiative "Stop Drinking – Start Living!" Dzmitry Karashkou. He was sentenced to a fine of 10 basic units (1.3 million rubles) for holding an anti-alcohol picket.

10.01.2014 Brest Regional Court upholds picket ban

The panel of judges on civil cases of the Brest Regional Civil Court upheld the decision of the Biaroza District Court, which upheld the picket ban, issued to human rights defenders Siarhei Rusetski and Tamara Shchapiotkina by the local authorities.

09.01.2014 Presidium of Mahiliou Regional Court reversed the verdict on the case of “Volny Horad”

On December 27, 2013 The Presidium of the Mahiliou Regional Court decided to annul the verdict of the Krychau District Court for June 17, 2013 concerning the claim of Cherykau PMK- 280 to the printed mass media “Volny Horad” and its journalists and terminate the proceedings. Yesterday the journalists received a copy of the verdict by mail.

09.01.2014 Is activity of Klimavichy District Executive Committee's administrative commission a state secret?

On 8 January the publisher of the independent news bulletins "Klimavichy Infa-Panarama” Siarhei Arzhanets was denied the right to attend a sitting of the administrative commission of the Klimavichy District Executive Committee.

06.01.2014 Policeman takes explanations from Mikalai Charnavus

The individual entrepreneur and activist Mikalai Charnavus who works at the central cooperative market was visited by the local police inspector, who told him to give explanations concerning the anti-corruption picket held on 26 December.

02.01.2014 Chairperson of Brest Regional Court turns down Viktary Syrytsa's appeal

On 2 January social activist Viktar Syrytsa received a letter from Brest Regional Court signed by the chair of the court Tamara Suchok and informed him about the dismissal of his complaint on the case of Milavidy Festival.

27.12.2013 National Bolshevik activist arrested ahead of “Stop-Tax” rally

Dzmitry Paliyenka, activist of the National Bolshevik Party, was detained on December 26 in Minsk. The detention took place at around 4 p.m. at the entrance to the MAZ plant, where he works. The activist was taken to the police department of Zavodski district and charged under Article 17.1 of the Administrative Code for “disorderly conduct.”

27.12.2013 UCP Mahiliou activist sentenced to 3 days of arrest

On December 26, Anton Kastsou visited the police department of Mahiliou’s Kastrychnitski district to inquire about the laptop seized at his apartment during a search, but he was taken to court, instead.