The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

On 22 February, the Assembly of Belarusian Pro-Democratic NGOs marks its 15th anniversary, being the largest association of Belarus’ non-governmental organizations, with over 300 member-organizations across the country.

The 2010 presidential election results were not falsified, says a reply by the General Prosecutor’s Office received by Mahiliou activist of the Fair World United Leftist party Valery Berazienka.

On 21 February, Navapolatsk activist Dzmitry Ryzhychenka, suspected of inscribing opposition graffiti back in 2010, was interrogated by local police.

Today, Minsk Maskouski District Court has sentenced activist of the “Tell the Truth” civil campaign Pavel Vinahradau to 10 days of administrative arrest for staging an event outside the city’s executive committee on 10 February.

Salihorsk district prosecutor’s office dismissed without a hearing a claim by local pro-democratic activist Uladzimir Shyla against groundless picket bans imposed by the district executive committee.

Paris-Geneva, February 21, 2012. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), condemns the rejection of the appeal lodged by the Vice-Chairman of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Viasna”, Mr. Valiantsin Stefanovich, before the Minsk City Court.