The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

22.04.2014 Another former candidate fired

Former candidate in this year’s local elections Vital Kalinouski has been forced to resign from the Mikashevichy-based Narbud + private enterprise, where he had as a mechanic.

21.04.2014 Ongoing harassment of UCP activists in Brest

Iryna Siniapkina, a member of the United Civil Party in Brest, received a summons from local police, which however failed to indicate the date and time of the expected visit, as well as the reasons for the call.

21.04.2014 Biaroza human rights defenders challenge picket ban

The Biaroza District Executive Committee admitted lack of independence professionalism when on March 20 it gave permission to hold a rally on Freedom Day and three days before the event reversed its decision.

21.04.2014 Journalist carrying election observation bulletins not admitted to Belarus

Journalist Anna Azemsha was sent back at Belarus’ border with Lithuania because there were election observation bulletins in the car.

21.04.2014 Journalist in Vitsebsk facing charges over illegal work for foreign media

The fact that journalist Alena Stsiapanava is accused of working without accreditation for foreign media was reported during her visit to the Kastrychnitski district police department of Vitsebsk.

18.04.2014 Fines for Distribution of Low-Circulation Press

The Smarhon district court fined the local activist Uladzimir Shulzhytski for 3 million rubles ($300) for distribution of low-circulation bulletin Smarhonski Grak.

18.04.2014 “In the name of the Republic of Belarus”: Pavel Sialiun executed

Death convict Pavel Sialiun is said to have been executed one of these days. Meanwhile, his complaint is still pending before the UN Human Rights Committee. This means that Belarus has once again breached its international obligations.

18.04.2014 Mikalai Autukhovich: “When I was released, former head of tax inspection asked for bodyguard”

Former political prisoner, Vaukavysk businessman told about the conditions of detention in Belarusian prisons, about his opinion on the entrepreneurial movement in Belarus and assessed the level of corruption in the country.

18.04.2014 Homel court warns Young Front activists over Ukraine solidarity

The Tsentralny District Court of Homel issued official warnings to three members of the Young Front opposition movement, Andrei Tsianiuta, Natallia Kryvashei and Stanislau Bula, having found them guilty of illegal picketing. The activists were charged of staging on 22 February an illegal picket in memory of Ukrainian victims.

18.04.2014 Brest Regional Court dismisses UCP election complaint

The complaint dealt with a decision of the trial court that confirmed a ban on an election rally held in Brest on February 24 and said that the protesters violated the procedure of holding mass events.

17.04.2014 Court blocks Valiantsin Stefanovich’s complaint against ban on Viasna website

Having appealed against the decision of the Tsentralny District Court, who dismissed a complaint against the actions of the Prosecutor General’s Office, human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich has not yet received any reaction, either a notification of the date of consideration or its receipt by the court.

17.04.2014 Death convict Aliaksandr Hrunou files supervisory appeal and petition for clemency

Aliaksandr Hrunou notes that when sentencing him to death the court failed to consider number of mitigating circumstances, including his sincere repentance, complete confession and voluntary cooperation with the investigation, as well as the illegal and immoral actions by the victim, Natallia Yemialiyanchykava.

17.04.2014 Belarus has “lowest respect for labor rights, trade union rights” in Customs Union (video)

Belarus has demonstrated the lowest level of respect for labor and trade union rights within the Customs Union, says Anton Leppik, representative of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), who participated in the discussion of the joint report of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Center “Viasna” “Forced Labor and Pervasive Violations of Workers’ Rights in Belarus”, held this month in Stockholm at the initiative of Swedish human rights defenders.

17.04.2014 Supreme Court upholds death sentence to Eduard Lykau

The man was found guilty of five murders. He committed the first two in 2002. However, the investigation found about it only in 2011, when he was detained for the last, fifth murder. Lykau confessed the previous crimes himself and cooperated with the investigation.

17.04.2014 Minsk Regional Court dismisses appeal against ban on Human Rights Day picket in Salihorsk

The Minsk Regional Court has dismissed a cassation appeal filed by Salihorsk opposition activist Uladzimir Shyla to challenge a ban on a picket scheduled for Human Rights Day, after an earlier decision by the District Court was confirmed.