The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

18.04.2013 Homel human rights defender seeks compensation over failure to implement UN HR Committee decisions

Human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka filed a lawsuit to the Tsentralny District Court of Homel against the Ministry of Finance demanding compensation for moral damages due to the failure of the authorities to implement the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee. He estimates the moral damage at the amount of the salary of a Member of Parliament within four years of office.

18.04.2013 Vitsebsk Regional Court turns down Siarhei Kavalenka’s appeal

Vitsebsk Regional Court upheld the decision by Pershamaiski District Court to fine Siarhei Kavalenka, activist of the Conservative Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front,” 1 million rubles on disorderly conduct charges.

18.04.2013 Homel court upholds picket ban

Judge Zhanna Andreichyk of the Court of Homel’s Tsentralny District considered yesterday the complaint of civil activist Kanstantsin Zhukouski about a ban on holding a picket on 1 April imposed by the city executive committee. The activist and his associates were planning to hold a rally under a slogan “Homel City Executive Committee! Hands Off History!” in order to attract public attention to the destruction of unique wooden buildings in the center of Homel.

17.04.2013 Viktor Stukov: "I thought I`m going to Polotsk Court, and it turned out that it is the court of Irina Dorotko."

Judge of the Polotsk Court Irina Dorotko has rejected all of the arguments of the trade union leader Victor Stukov, and upheld the employer's decision to dismiss him. According to Victor Stukov, the objections of the trade union lawyer Elena Eskova were responded by the judge as follows: "I don't know about other courts, but here is my court!"

17.04.2013 Astravets civil society activist seeking return of seized items

Astravets civil society activist Mikalai Ulasevich keeps his legal battle with Ashmiany regional customs. He sent another complaint to the district court of Ashmiany to challenge the unlawful actions of customs officials.

17.04.2013 Vitsebsk judge goes unpunished

“The investigation into the facts of gross disrespect to the participants of the trial by Judge of the Court of Kastrychnitski District of Vitsebsk I.V. Hrabouskaya failed to find grounds for initiating disciplinary proceedings against her,” says an official letter from the first deputy head of the Justice Department of Vitsebsk regional executive committee Ihar Karzhou in response to a statement sent to said department by the head of Vitsebsk regional office of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Leanid Autukhou.

16.04.2013 Minsk City Court turns down appeal by Ukrainian activists

Minsk City Court dismissed today an appeal lodged by Mrs. Yulia Hryshchuk and Mrs. Yulia Slivinskaya, both citizens of Ukraine, who were detained by the police during the 24 March Freedom Day demonstration. The girls were then charged with resisting arrest and eventually sentenced to one day of administrative arrest each.

28.03.2013 Tell the Truth activist complains of KGB harassment

Aliaksandr Balobin, an activist of the “Tell the Truth” campaign from the town of Klimavichy, filed today a complaint to the Prosecutor's Office of Mahiliou region to challenge the actions by employees of the KGB’s Krychau interdistrict department who detained and interrogated him on March 27. The activist urges the prosecutor to investigate into the illegal detention by the KGB and threats against him, and to bring those responsible to justice in accordance with the law.

28.03.2013 Interior Ministry says “No” to Vitsebsk activists

Khrystafor Zhaliapau, head of Vitsebsk regional office of the movement “For Freedom”, received a reply to his complaint filed to the Interior Ministry after facing another ban on holding a mass event imposed by the city’s police department. Meanwhile, according to a decision of the local executive officials, permission to stage a street event can only be obtained with prior agreement of the police.

27.03.2013 Ex-Mayor of Homel complains to UN Human Rights Committee

Mrs. Sviatlana Haldadze, former chair of Homel city executive committee, submitted a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee, contesting a ban on holding a picket on August 4 last year in support of imprisoned human rights defender Ales Bialiatski. The picket was applied for by local human rights activists Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka.

27.03.2013 Chairman of Hrodna Regional Court confirms fines to human rights defenders

Hrodna human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau, Raman Yurhel and Uladzimir Khilmanovich received a response to their complaint, signed by Chairman of Hrodna Regional Court Aliaksandr Hrynkevich. The activists challenged the decision of Leninski District Court of Hrodna, who fined them 1.5 million rubles each for posting a photo on the Internet in solidarity with Ales Bialiatski and the later decision by Hrodna Regional Court on the review of the appeal.

26.03.2013 Human rights defender Raman Kisliak petitions Prosecutor General

Lawyer and human rights activist Raman Kisliak urges Prosecutor General to investigate the activities of police in Vitsebsk region, after Kanstantsin Smolikau and Leanid Autukhou were detained awaiting trial for more than 48 hours.

25.03.2013 Prosecutor General's Office unable to impose liability on Presidential Administration officials

The Presidential Administration violates the law “On Public Appeals”, however the Prosecutor General's Office has no right to bring to justice its officials, suggest a response received from the Prosecutor General’s Office by civil society activist Aliaksei Paulouski. The official letter offers to appeal the alleged violation of the Code in the Presidential Administration, instead.

25.03.2013 Independent journalist complains of negligent officials

Mikalai Herdziy, economic observer of the Krychau-based independent newspaper “Volny Horad” (“Free Town”), submitted a statement to the Prosecutor’s Office of Mahiliou region, urging the prosecutors to verify the facts of violation of legislation of the Republic of Belarus by Krychau interdistrict department of the State Control Committee.

25.03.2013 Mahiliou Regional Court confirms picket ban

Mahiliou Regional Court considered today an appeal lodged by local leader of the United Civil Party Uladzimir Shantsau to challenge a ban on holding a picket on December 19, 2012 imposed by the city executive committee and later upheld by Leninski District Court.