The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 14 Apr 2015

14.04.2015 New presidential decree in Belarus uses fines and imprisonment as a means to "stimulate" employment

Human rights activists call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately annul the presidential decree on the "prevention of dependency on social aid" due to its non-compliance with the international human rights obligations of Belarus.

14.04.2015 Zhana Ptsichkina studied the criminal case concerning the death of her son

The mother of Ihar Ptsichkin, who had died in the remand prison in Valadarski Street, 1 in Minsk back on August 4, 2013, sought the assistance of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”.

14.04.2015 Mikalai Statkevich to stand another trial

“The administration of the correctional colony has decided that he “hasn't mended his ways” and “intends to pursue a criminal lifestyle”, therefore his further detention in this highly moral institution is impossible,” wrote the prisoner's wife Maryna Adamovich at her Facebook account.

14.04.2015 Valiantsin Stefanovich: Unfortunately, not all European politicians want to see what is going on in Belarus

The situation that has developed around political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich is very symptomatic, showing that the Belarusian authorities, firstly, do not want to release political prisoners, and, secondly, only imitate a dialogue with the European Union.

14.04.2015 Svietlahorsk: wheelchair user didn't manage to get to court hearing

April 13 Svietlahorsk District Court was to have considered a lawsuit, filed by a civil society activist, wheelchair user Yury Liashenka. However, the activist didn't manage to get to the preliminary hearing, as the judge's office was located on the first floor, and the barrier-free environment often exists just on the paper.

14.04.2015 Civil society activist Nina Bahinskaya to be tried for white-red-white flag

Nina Bahinskaya learned about the upcoming trial on April 13, when she visited the Maskouski District Police Department of Minsk on an oral invitation of the police.

14.04.2015 Invitation to press conference "2nd round of UPR for Belarus: expectations of human rights community"

April 15 at 11 a.m. there will be held a press-conference on the results of the participation of human rights defenders at the pre-session in Geneva on April 8-10, prior to the passage of the second round of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by Belarus.

14.04.2015 Journalists Ales Dzianisau and Ales Kirkevich to be tried in Hrodna April 15

On Wednesday, April 15, Leninski District Court of Hrodna will consider the administrative case against the freelance journalists Ales Dzianisau and Ales Kirkevich, charged under Part 2, Article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences (illegally producing and distributing information).