The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

02.09.2014 Ukraine: Rebel Forces Detain, Torture Civilians

On the 23rd anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union, August 24th, militants in Donetsk paraded a few dozen Ukrainian prisoners down the city’s main thoroughfare, grimly mocking a military parade in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. A few hundred onlookers jeered, cursed, spit, and threw vegetables at the hand-cuffed and head-bowed prisoners. Trucks followed them, symbolically cleaning the street behind them by spraying water on the asphalt.

02.09.2014 New trial concerning "BelSat" trademark

The panel of judges for intellectual property re-considers the lawsuit against the independent TV channel.

01.09.2014 UN Human Rights Committee takes five new decisions concerning Belarus

At the 111th session, held 7-25 July, the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations considered five new cases concerning Belarus and issued decisions confirming the violation by the Government of Belarus of certain rights of Belarusian citizens. A brief review of cases was made for “Homel Spring” by the head of the Center for Strategic Lawsuits Leanid Sudalenka.

01.09.2014 UN: armed groups continue keeping about 400 captives in Donetsk and Lugansk regions

According to unian.ua, this was reported by Ivan Shymonovych, aide to the Secretary General of the United Nations Secretary during a meeting with journalists.

01.09.2014 Independent journalists face new reprisals

On Friday, August 29, a freelance journalist Maryna Mauchanava, whose articles were published at the website of the TV channel "Belsat", received a summons from the Babruisk police, according to which he needed to come to them as a person charged with violation of the media legislation.

01.09.2014 International freedom of expression rapporteurs urge stronger protection of journalists covering conflicts

GENEVA / WASHINGTON / VIENNA / PRETORIA,1 September 2014 – Recent attacks, ongoing kidnappings, and arbitrary and unjustified incarcerations of journalists around the world must be condemned and opposed by the international community, a group of international freedom of expression rapporteurs* said today.

01.09.2014 Maksim Viniarski sentenced to 15 days of arrest

September 1, coordinator of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Maksim Viniarski was tried at the Savetski District Court in Minsk. Due to the failure of the witnesses to appear in court, the hearing was postponed to 2 p.m.

01.09.2014 Brest authorities ban pickets for simplification of local border traffic

Brest City Executive Committee banned the event despite the fact that the organizers wanted to hold it in the places that the authorities themselves had determined as suitable for such events.

31.08.2014 Ales Bialatski: Regime in Belarus looks for benefit to gain from Ukraine’s misfortune

Authorities have exposed their “grasp reflex” without even fearing European Union representatives, says Ales Bialiatski.

31.08.2014 Kanstantsin Zhukouski on hunger strike to protest unfair jail term

Homel opposition activist Kanstantsin Zhukouski has started a hunger strike in the temporary detention facility of the city’s department of internal affairs. His administrative case was heard by the Tsentralny District Court of Homel on August 28. The activist was detained by riot police on August 25. A ruling of Judge Volha Kazlova convicted the activist of disobeying police officers (Article 23.4 of the Administrative Code) and sentenced him to an administrative arrest of five 5 days. During the trial, Zhukouski said that he was not guilty of the offense.

31.08.2014 Homel ideology officials advise local newspaper to refrain from anti-Roma discrimination

Homel human rights defenders Ales Yauseyenka and Maryia Klimovich have received a response to their petition to the Main Directorate of Ideological Work, Culture and Youth Affairs of the Homel Regional Executive Committee.

31.08.2014 BSDP Deputy Chairman appeals fine over newspaper distribution

On August 29, Ihar Barysau, Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada), has filed an appeal in the Mahiliou Regional Court. In his complaint, the Social Democrat demands to cancel the decision of Judge Stanislau Leuchanka of the court of Mahiliou district of August 12.

31.08.2014 Luninets police find no violations in violent detention of activist Alena Dubanosava

Police officials of the town of Luninets say there were no violations in the detention of local opposition activist Alena Dubanosava outside the Town Court on July 30. The official response is signed by the Chief of the Luninets Police Department and has been sent to an activist of the campaign “Tell the Truth” Leanid Dubanosau, the husband of the detained activist.

31.08.2014 Last Dawn presented in Bialynichy district

On August 28, Bialynichy district hosted a presentation of the multimedia project Aposhni Zolak (“Last Dawn”). The event was arranged in the framework of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders Against the Death Penalty”. It also included the screening of an animated film entitled The Executioner.

31.08.2014 Opposition activist Maksim Viniarski detained in Minsk

On August 29, police officers detained Maksim Viniarski, coordinator of the European Belarus opposition movement, as he was leaving the apartment of activist Yuliya Stsiapanava. According to Leanid Kulakou, who witnessed the detention, Viniarski was told that he was wanted on suspicion of committing a crime.