The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for October 2011

25.10.2011 Barysau press photographer Ziankou detained

Press photographer Aliaksandr Ziankou has been detained while taking pictures of a hunger-strike by Barysau housing department employees this morning.

25.10.2011 Vileika human rights defender receives negative reply to his complaint

Vileika human rights defender Uladzimir Maliarchuk has received a negative reply to his complaint of police-related violence and poor detention conditions in local detention center, where he had to spend 5 days for involvement in a “silent protest”.

24.10.2011 At least one detained in solidarity rally in Minsk

At least one participant of today’s rally of solidarity with prisoners of conscience in Minsk’s central Kastrychnitskaya Square has been detained by plain clothes riot policemen.

24.10.2011 Minsk City Bar Association accepts chairman's resignation following justice ministry's request for his dismissal

The Minsk City Bar Association, at a general meeting on October 22, accepted the resignation of Chairman Alyaksandr Pylchanka, who offered to step down in September following the justice ministry's request for his dismissal.

24.10.2011 Hrodna activist misses appeal period due to delay by court officials

Hrodna human rights defender Viktar Sazonau will be unable to appeal a fine imposed by the city’s Leninski District Court, after the expiry of the allowed period for appealing the verdict.

24.10.2011 Brest regional court turns down complaint by People’s Assembly organizer

Brest Regional Court has dismissed a complaint lodged by deputy chair of Brest office of the Belarusian Leftist Party “Fair World” Liavontsi Chypurnykh against an earlier verdict by Brest Maskouski District Court.

24.10.2011 Minsk protesters stand trials

Minsk Tsentralny District Court has heard the administrative cases of European Belarus activist detained for staging a picket of solidarity with political prisoners in Kastrychnitskaya Square on 21 October.

24.10.2011 For Freedom Lida coordinator unable to regain seized car

Siarhei Trafimchyk, resident of Biarozauka, Lida district, has lodged a complaint with Hrodna regional prosecutor’s office, appealing actions by Masty road police who detained the activist for alleged theft and eventually seized his car, together with several copies of independent periodicals.

24.10.2011 Homel protester sentenced to 10 days of arrest

Homel Tsentralny District Court has sentenced local activist Vital Pratasevich to 10 days of administrative arrest for staging an unauthorized picket of solidarity with prisoners of conscience on 21 October.

24.10.2011 Dziarzhynsk activist fined for 8 September picket

On 24 October, Dziarzhynsk District Court fined local activist Aliaksandr Tarnahurski BYR 175,000 following a search at the activist’s apartment on 22 October.

24.10.2011 Homel protester to stand trial

Vital Pratasevich, the only participant of a picket of solidarity with Belarusian prisoners of conscience staged in Homel central park on 21 October, will stand trial on 24 October.

24.10.2011 BPF activist questioned over Justice House arson

On 21 October, Korbyn police interrogated local member of the Belarusian Popular Front Aliaksandr Strachuk.

24.10.2011 Protester goes on hunger strike following arrest in Minsk`s Kastrychnitskaya Square

Opposition activist Alyaksandr Valantsevich has gone on hunger strike in the detention center on Akrestsina Street in Minsk following his arrest during a demonstration in central Kastrychnitskaya Square on Friday evening.

22.10.2011 Council of Republic adopts amendments to law "On Mass Events"

The law was adopted by the House of Representatives at a closed session on October 3, in two readings at a time.

21.10.2011 Journalist Pachobut to appeal verdict at Supreme Court

Hrodna reporter of the Polish Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper Andrei Pachobut is going to appeal a three-year suspended verdict for alleged libel of President, after his complaint was dismissed by Hrodna Regional Court on 20 September.