The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

03.01.2015 Vasil Paliakou: Thorough searches on the border are politically motivated discrimination

January 2, deputy chairman of the United Civil Party Vasil Paliakoufiled an appeal to the Chairman of the State Customs Committee, asking to hold an inspection, give a legal assessment of the actions of officers of the Ashmiany customs and report about the reasons why he had been subjected to personal inspection by them.

03.01.2015 Hrodna prosecutors justify the use of force by “voluntary police aide”

Civil society activist from Hrodna Volha Krapotsina has received a response from the Hrodna City Prosecutor's Office to her complaint, in which she asked to verify the legitimacy of actions of citizen Uladzimir Harelau and representatives of the police and give them a proper legal assessment.

02.01.2015 Statkevich Sr. congratulated on the New Year

January 1, Baranavichy social activists and human rights defenders and congratulated Viktar Statkevich, the father of the political prisoner and ex-presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich on the New Year. This is the fifth New Year Viktar Statkevich has to celebrate without his son.

02.01.2015 Baranavichy: human rights defender appeals a picket ban

Human rights activist Siarhei Housha has filed a complaint to the Baranavichy City Court against the decision of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee according to which he has been prohibited to hold a picket dedicated to the 66th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

02.01.2015 Biaroza activists visit Yury Rubtsou

Since December 22 Homel resident Yury Rubtsou, sentenced to 18 months of personal restraint (after the use of amnesty), has been kept in the open penitentiary institution No. 7 in the village of Kuolin in Pruzhany district, where a co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Pavel Seviarynets used to serve his 3-year term of personal restraint.

02.01.2015 National Human Rights Award 2014

The website charter97.org announced winners of the National Human Rights Award 2014.

31.12.2014 Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

The coming year is not going to be easy. But even in these difficult conditions, we wish you not to lose optimism and activity, to say and do things that will improve our lives, to protect your own rights and the independence of Belarus!

31.12.2014 Syarhei Kavalenka on hunger strike for the sixth day

Syarhei Kavalenka, an activist of the conservative Christian Party BPF, sentenced to 10 day arrest, is on hunger strike for 6 days already.

30.12.2014 Salihorsk human rights defender appeals ban on Human Rights Day picket

Human rights activist Leanid Markhotka has sent to the court of Salihorsk district an appeal against a ban imposed by local officials on a picket that was scheduled for Human Rights Day. Prior to this, Mr. Markhotka wrote to the prosecutor, but that attempt failed.

30.12.2014 UCP Deputy Chairman searched at border

On December 28, Vasil Paliakou, deputy chairman of the United Civil Party of Belarus, was taken off the train going to Minsk as he was crossing the Lithuanian-Belarusian border. During a thorough examination, he was forced to take off his clothes and even shoes.

30.12.2014 Journalist in Mahiliou complains about ban on attending Regional Council’s meeting

Uladzimir Laptsevich, a reporter for the BelaPAN news agency, has filed a complaint in the Mahiliou Regional Court against two officials of the Regional Council of Deputies, including its Chairman Mr. Isachenka, who prevented the journalist from attending a meeting of the Council. In addition, Uladzimir Laptsevich asks the court to order these individuals not to interfere with attending public meetings of the Regional Council in the future.

29.12.2014 Siarhei Kavalenka arrested for 10 days

The Vitsebsk opposition activist spent three days before the trial in the detention center, having declared a hunger strike. He was taken into custody on December 24 – the day when a white-red-white flag appeared in Vitsebsk. Siarhei Kavalenka was brought to the courtroom in handcuffs, which particularly angered his relatives and human rights defenders.

29.12.2014 Political prisoner Ihar Alinevich visited by parents

Political prisoner Ihar Alinevich, who was sentenced to eight years in prison under strict regime, has been allowed to see his parents during a long meeting, which however lasted only 24 hours instead of the usual three days, according to Valiantsina Alinevich, the political prisoner’s mother.

29.12.2014 Salihorsk Prosecutor’s Office brushes off appeal by human rights activist

The Prosecutor’s Office of Salihorsk district did not respond to a ban imposed by the district executive committee on a picket scheduled for Human Rights Day and the absurd actions of an ideology official who classified the decision as a state secret.

26.12.2014 Brest Prosecutor’s Office finds no violations in actions of City Council deputies

This follows from a response received by activists of the civil initiative “Social Office”, who were going to attract the attention of the supervisory authority to fact of disrespect for the legislation on citizens’ petitions repeatedly committed by the City Council members.