The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

20.12.2013 Changes in the Electoral Code do not reflect essential criticism by independent observers

The first press conference of a campaign of monitoring the local elections of the 27th convocation was held today in Minsk. Human rights defenders Valiantsin Stefanovich (HRC "Viasna") and Aleh Hulak (BHC) spoke about the socio-political background, against which the elections will be held, as well as about changes to the Electoral Code, which, incidentally, do not reflect the fundamental observations and recommendations made by both Belarusian and foreign independent observers.

20.12.2013 Opposition activist goes on hunger strike over arrest

Judge Viktorya Shabunia of Minsk Tsentralny District Court punished opposition activist Maksim Viniarski with an administrative arrest of 15 days for involvement in a picket of solidarity with Ukrine’s pro-EU protest, which was held outside the Embassy of Ukraine in Minsk on November 30.

20.12.2013 Mother of inmate who died in Svetlahorsk prison goes to court

The decision to file a complaint was taken after Valiantsina Akulich received another runaround reply from district prosecutor Uladzimir Tarasenka, which showed the meaninglessness of further correspondence with prosecutors. Mr. Tarasenka considered the woman’s complaint, without studying the materials of a probe into the death of her son.

20.12.2013 State-owned media disclose details about recent death convict Lykau

The Investigative Committee told the major Sovetskaya Belorussia state-run daily certain details on the murders Eduard Lykau, who was sentenced to death in late November, committed. It is noteworthy that for one of the murders an innocent man spent seven years in prison.

20.12.2013 Courts refuse to consider complaint of discrimination based on union affiliation

The Judicial Board on Civil Cases of the Brest Regional Court on December 19 was expected to consider a complaint of the trade union of electronic industry in the interests of its member Aliaksandr Sakharuk. The trade union’s lawyers asked to annul the conditions of his employment agreement and to eliminate discrimination at work.

20.12.2013 Observatory condemns censorship of Viasna website

The Observatory has been informed of the continued harassment of the Belarusian Human Rights Centre Viasna.

20.12.2013 Catherine Ashton calls on Belarus to join global moratorium on the death penalty

The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: "The High Representative regrets the death sentence recently handed down to an individual by the Minsk Regional Court. She hopes that his right to appeal will be fully exercised."

20.12.2013 UN Committee: Belarus should abolish forced labour

Belarus should abolish compulsory labour and ensure adequate protection of workers. This, among other important recommendations, was put forward by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) following its review of Belarus in November 2013.

19.12.2013 “Champions of civil society” to be awarded on December 23

The fifth annual awards ceremony of the Assembly of Democratic NGOs “Champions of Civil Society” will be held on December 23 in Minsk. The prize will be awarded to outstanding individuals, organizations and events that have been essential to the development of the Belarusian third sector in 2013.

19.12.2013 Police search apartment of BCD activist in Baranavichy

The police Baranavichy searched last evening the apartment of Artsiom Babei, local activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, the BCD press-service reports quoting its coordinator in the Brest region Zmitser Shurkhai.

19.12.2013 FIDH and the Human Rights Center Viasna Demand the Immediate and Unconditional Release of Mikola Statkevich and Other Political Prisoners

A joint statement by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" on the occasion of the third anniversary of the imprisonment of the 2010 presidential candidate Mikola Statkevich.

18.12.2013 Action Required: Support Freelance Journalists in Belarus

The European Fedeartion of Journalists supports BAJ's efforts aimed at introducing a legal status for freelance journalists in the Belarusian media law.

18.12.2013 Authorities ban picket to support EuroMaidan

Pickets of solidarity with Ukrainians were banned in several Belarusian towns.

18.12.2013 Independent weekly in Slonim faces eviction

The company “Partner-Slonim Ltd.”, which owns the premises rented by a local independent weekly, Hazeta Slonimskaya, requests that the office should be vacated by January 1, 2014, the press-service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports.