26.05.2015 Four years since Mikalai Statkevich was sentenced

Statement by Franz Thoennes (Social Democratic Party of Germany), Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the German Bundestag

26.05.2015 Torture of death convict’s relatives: Fifth argument against the death penalty (video)

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has repeatedly said that the procedure of executing death verdicts in Belarus has signs of torture and inhuman treatment, both in relation to the executed person and his relatives.

26.05.2015 Ales Bialiatski: “CIS countries rebuilding police states pact”

Human rights defender Ales Bialiatski has commented on his Facebook page on the meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Bodies and Special Services of the CIS member states, which is being held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

25.05.2015 Freelance journalist Volha Chaichyts receives summons to court

Freelance journalist Volha Chaichyts has received a summons ordering her to appear at the Dziaržynsk District Court on June 1.

25.05.2015 Police open probe into alleged misuse of violence against football fans in Baranavičy

On May 23, human rights activist Siarhei Housha received a response from the Baranavičy Interdistrict Prosecutor’s Office to his complaint about alleged beating of football fans before on May 3.

25.05.2015 Border guards seize laptop from human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka

Belarusian border guards searched human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka as he was returning from Lithuania last evening. As a result, they took several data storage devices and a laptop.

25.05.2015 ‘Social parasites’ protests banned in Orša and Brest

On May 24 and 25, local activists of the United Civil Party were going to stage a number of protests against the newly introduced Decree No. 3 “On the prevention of social dependency”.

25.05.2015 Ales Bialiatski: “Closer relations with Belarus not justifiable”

Europolitics, an authoritative Brussels-based media outlet, specializing in detailed coverage of events in the European Union, interviewed Ales Bialiatski on the eve of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga.

23.05.2015 Contacts

E-mail: viasna@spring96.org web-site: www.spring96.org

Phone: +375 17 394-63-11

Cell: +375 29 841-39-81

22.05.2015 3 UCP pickets banned in Hrodna region

Members of the United Civil Party are still trying to obtain permission to stage several pickets in the Hrodna region. This time, the representatives of the party applied for a series of pickets against Decree No. 3, so-called decree against parasites.

22.05.2015 Baranavičy District Court dismisses appeal against ban on May Day picket

Baranavičy District Court heard yesterday an appeal filed by local trade union activist Ryhor Hryk, who challenged a ban on the May Day rally imposed by the local executive committee. As a result, Judge Mikalai Selimanovich found the activist’s claims groundless.

22.05.2015 Freelance journalist in Homieĺ again punished for working without accreditation

On May 22, the Homieĺ District Court heard an administrative case of local freelance journalist Kanstantsin Zhukouski. As a result, the freelancer was punished by a fine of 25 basic units under Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code (illegal manufacturing media products).

22.05.2015 Freelance journalist in Brest faces fresh administrative charges

Freelance journalist Alina Litvinchuk is facing new charges under Article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative offenses, namely working with foreign media without accreditation.

22.05.2015 Brest authorities confirm ban on picket of solidarity with political prisoners

Human rights defenders in Biaroza have received a reply from the Brest Regional Executive Committee signed by the deputy chairman Leanid Tsupryk. The letter concerned an earlier decision of the Biaroza executive committee to ban a picket scheduled for March 9.

22.05.2015 Amnesty International: Overwhelming new evidence of prisoners being tortured and killed amid conflict in Ukraine

Overwhelming evidence of ongoing war crimes, including torture and summary killings of prisoners, serve as a stark reminder of the brutal practices being committed on a near-daily basis in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Amnesty International said in a new report published today.