The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

18.11.2013 Hlybokaye activist sues district executive committee over picket ban

Dzmitry Lupach, an activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, is appealing a court ban on the rally of solidarity with political prisoners scheduled for November 23. He believes the ban is illegal and asks the court to admit this and to oblige the executive committee to allow the event.

18.11.2013 Mother of death convict Pavel Sialiun petitions Lukashenka

The woman asks to pardon her son, as well as to arrange a meeting with the death convict.

18.11.2013 Supreme Economic Court turns down publisher’s lawsuit against Ministry of Information

The Supreme Economic Court considered today a lawsuit filed by the publishing house “Lohvinau” requesting to cancel the order of the Ministry of Information to revoke the company’s license.

18.11.2013 Mikalai Authukhovich deprived of meeting with mother

The meeting with relatives was scheduled for November.

18.11.2013 Activists detained for anti-alcohol leaflets in Homel

The co-chairman of Young Front Andrej Cianiuta and an organization’s activist Stanislau Bula have been detained in Homel.

18.11.2013 Slonim: executive committee consistently denies permission for pickets

Ales Masiuk, an activist from the town of Slonim, Hrodna region, was not allowed to stage another picket scheduled for November 17 in the town park. The picket was expected to support the right of Slonim district residents to freely subscribe to the independent newspaper Hazeta Slonimskaya using the Belarusian post network, as well as to freely buy it at the Belsayuzdruk newsstands. The ban signed by the Acting First Deputy Chairman Uladzislau Hershhoryn was received just four days before the planned event. It explains that on the same day and time the location in Opernaya Street will be occupied by a mass public event entitled “Younger Generation – Ready!” to mark the International Students’ Day.

16.11.2013 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders demands to release Andrei Bandarenka

The Observatory was informed of the arrest and sentencing of Mr. Andrei Bandarenka to five days of imprisonment. Mr. Bandarenka is the Director of the human rights organisation “Platforma”, which monitors conditions of detention in Belarus.

15.11.2013 Human rights activist demands to amend the Law “On Psychiatric Care”

The new Law of the Republic of Belarus № 349-3 “On Psychiatric Care” came into force on January 7, 2012. It may seem just another bill, but it is necessary to pay special attention to some seemingly insignificant articles.

15.11.2013 Havel Prize nominees congratulate Ales Bialiatski

A letter of congratulation to Ales Bialiatski currently held in Babruisk penal colony came from the Hungarian-based Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC).

15.11.2013 Statement by the Human Rights Center "Viasna" regarding the arrest of human rights defender Andrei Bandarenka

On November 14, the Court of Minsk’s Maskouski district considered the administrative case opened against the director of the private cultural and educational institution “Platform Innovation” Andrei Bandarenka, as a result of which the human rights activist was found guilty of violating Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (violation of the order of organizing and holding mass events) and sentenced to five days in prison.

15.11.2013 Human rights activists report non-critical changes in media environment in Salihorsk

Salihorsk representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee continue to monitor the situation with freedom of speech in the district. The human rights activists say the status quo in this area in recent months is still preserved, with a light movement in the direction of improving the situation.

15.11.2013 Another picket banned in Baranavichy

Baranavichy city executive committee banned a rally under the slogan “They must be stopped”, “Public control for actions of the authorities”. It is said in a letter signed by the deputy chairman of the executive committee Mr. Kastsiukevich received by local trade union activist Ryhor Hryk. The official said that the government would not allow the rally, as the slogan of the claimed mass action violated the requirements of Art. 10 of the Law “On Mass Events in the Republic of Belarus”.

15.11.2013 Lohvinau vs. Ministry of Information hearing appointed for November 18

The publisher is trying to appeal the decision to deprive him of his publishing licence.

15.11.2013 Euroradio correspondent office prolongs accreditation in Belarus

PM Mikhail Myasnikovich signed a corresponding decree. It is published at the Belarusian national legal internet-portal.

15.11.2013 Human rights defender Andrei Bandarenka sentenced to 5 days of arrest

The Court of Minsk’s Maskouski district considered yesterday administrative charges brought against the mother of Ihar Ptsichkin who died in Minsk detention center this August and director of a human rights group called “Platform Innovation” Andrei Bandarenka. They were accused of unauthorized picketing.