The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

The Central Election Commission voiced the results of the nomination of representatives to precinct election commissions.

Actions in support of Ales Bialiatski and all political prisoners in Belarus were held on 4 August in different countries of the world: France, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Lithuania, Georgia, Armenia, Switzerland, Norway… We propose to your attention a photo report from these actions.

On 10 July Aleh Volchak addressed the Maskouski District Court of Minsk with an appeal against the actions (inaction) of the state institution resulting in inhuman and humiliating treatment, asking to close down the delinquents' isolation center in Akrestsin Street for bringing it in line with the UN standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners.

Human rights defender Uladzimir Tseliapun applied to the Mazyr District Court against ruling of the Mazyr District Executive Committee #1202 of 15 September 2011 concerning the holding of mass events. After the adoption of this ruling the local authorities started demanding that organizers of mass events concluded paid service agreements with police, medics and communal utilities and attached them to applications for the authorization of such actions.

As soon as the head of the Pinsk organization of the Belarusian Popular Front Aliaksandr Ramanovich stated his intention to get nominated as a candidate for the Parliament at Pinsk election constituency #14, a denigration campaign was launched against him.

In Mazyr a citizen who had a personal appointment with the Prosecutor General, was met by the district prosecutor Sushchynski who introduced himself as the Prosecutor General, promising to solve his problems.

In the evening of 5 August an activist of the civil association “Free Region” Aliaksandr Drazdou was detained during an attempt to hang out a banner “Freedom to Bialiatski!”.

As the city authorities prohibited Maladechna dweller Eduard Balanchuk to hold a picket at the central square, he walked there wearing a T-shirt “Freedom to Ales Bialiatski” in order to remind about the anniversary of the arrest of the well-known human rights defender. The police didn't pose any pretensions to him.

On 4 August, the anniversary of the imprisonment of Ales Bialiatski, local human rights defenders and civil activists held an action of solidarity with political prisoners. They posted and handed out leaflets with the demand to release the human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, the head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).

8 candidates for the parliamentary election was nominated at the assembly of the Belarusian Popular Front Party on 4 August.