The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 11 Nov 2013

11.11.2013 Trial “BELSATplus” vs. “BelSat TV” postponed to 9 December

The Supreme Court decided to defer the trial on request of the representative of the “BelSat TV” Michail Yanchuk.

11.11.2013 Homel: Zmitser Karashkou charged with illegal picketing

In the morning of 11 November the coordinator of the civil campaign “Stop drinking – start living!” Zmitser Karashkou was detained for holding an anti-alcoholization picket in front of the Homel Regional Executive Committee, where he unfurled a huge banner "Stop the sale of alcohol near schools".

11.11.2013 Policeman sentenced to 6 years in jail for squeezing out testimonies

According to the newspaper “Krychauskaya Zhyttsio”, on 31 October the Babruisk inter-district military court sentenced a Krychau policeman to 6 years years of jail under Part 3 of Art. 426 of the Criminal Code (abuse of power or authority ) and paragraph 9 of Part 2 of Art . 147 of the Criminal Code (intentional infliction of a serious bodily injury), without confiscation of property, with deprivation of the special title of "senior police sergeant", with disqualification to hold certain positions for a period of five years.

11.11.2013 Baranavichy: civil activist Ryhor Hryk intends to hold a picket “For public control over actions of the authorities”

The civil activist Ryhor Hryk filed an application for the action to the Baranavichy District Executive Committee.

11.11.2013 Leanid Smouzh sentenced to five days of arrest

The Leninski District Court of Minsk considered the administrative case of Leanid Smouzh, detained on 10 November after a procession and rally in Loshytsa. The reason for the detention was the fact that the resident of Stoubtsy district was wearing a T-shirt with the inscription "For Belarus without Lukashenka".

11.11.2013 Brest Regional Court turns down the appeal of trade-union activist fired from “Granite”

The member of the Free Trade Union of Belarus Leanid Dubanosau tried to challenge the decision of the Luninets District Court, which refused to reinstate him at work and didn't recognize the adverse discrimination at the enterprise due to his membership in the trade-union.

11.11.2013 Assault on Polatsk democrats

At 4.30 p.m. in Polatsk the police detained five activists of the Polatsk coalition of democratic forces, at the local office of the civil campaign “Tell the Truth!”: Yury Belski, Aleh Kraiko, Anatol Prakapenka, Anton Yasinovich and Yauhen Vilski.

11.11.2013 Our heartiest congratulations to Yuliya Hanchar on the birth of a daughter

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" sincerely congratulates the new parents – our dear member Yuliya Hanchar, and hear husband, Andrei Hanchar, on the birth of a daughter, and Zinaida Hanchar – on the birth of her granddaughter.

11.11.2013 Homel police continue haunting participants of an action in the memory of victims of Stalinist repressions

On 8 November the deputy chairman of the United Civil Party Vasil Paliakou was summonsed to the Navabelitski District Police Department in Homel. There he was charged with organizing an unauthorized mass procession (Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code).

11.11.2013 Dzmitry Dashkevich complains about the conditions in the center for the isolation of offenders in Akrestsin Street

On 11 November the co-chairman of the “Young Front" Dzmitry Dashkevich complained to the prosecutor of Minsk. Dashkevich asks to check whether the conditions of detention comply with the standards in the Center for isolation of offenders in Akrestsin Street.