The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

31.10.2013 Human rights violations in Belarus discussed at UN side-event

On October 30, 2013 New York City hosted a side event at the UN General Assembly with the participation of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Mr. Miklos Haraszti, and the Belarusian and international human rights defenders: Valiantsin Stefanovich, deputy chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna", Zhanna Litvina, leader of Belarusian Association of Journalists, Sasha Koulaeva, head of FIDH’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Desk.

30.10.2013 Homel Regional Court orders district court to consider complaint by local activist

The Civil Division of the Homel Regional Court considered yesterday an appeal filed by a civil society activist from the town of Kalinkavichy, Tamara Zaitsava.

30.10.2013 Salihorsk human rights defenders urge local officials to report on accessibility program

Representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee in Salihorsk sent a letter to local authorities urging them to provide a report on the implementation of the program for the development of a barrier-free environment in the town’s educational institutions.

30.10.2013 Speech by FIDH President Karim Lahidji at Third Belarusian Human Rights Forum

The Third Forum of Belarusian human rights defenders that took place on 26-27 October in Vilnius and was opened by a welcome speech of the President of the FIDH, Karim Lahidji. Here is the full text of his speech.

30.10.2013 Restrictions on Dzmitry Miadvedz’s freedom expire today

Dzmitry Miadvedz, one of the defendants of the “rioting” case of 2010, is not involved in politics, nor is he related to political parties and movements, palitviazni.info reports.

30.10.2013 EU publishes updated blacklist of Belarusian individuals, entities

The Council of the European Union has published the names of Belarusian citizens and economic entities whose names were included in the EU's blacklist and removed from it on October 29, BelaPAN said.

30.10.2013 "Viasna": 10 years without registration

Human rights defender Uladzimir Labkovich remembers well October 28, 2003, when the Supreme Court put an end to the registration of "Viasna". How is it that the decision put an end to the activities of the human rights defenders?

30.10.2013 Court regards “standing along the sidewalk facing the street with red flowers in hands..." as picket

Judge Kamisarau of Minsk City Court dismissed a complaint filed by Siarhei Yaumenau against the decision in an administrative case which has already entered into force.

30.10.2013 Journalists detained in Minsk again

Independent journalists Alyaksandr Barazenka and Maria Artsybashava were detained on Tuesday near the Pershamaiskaya metro station in Minsk.

30.10.2013 Mahiliou court fines local pro-dem leader Yury Novikau

On October 29, Judge Alena Volkava of Leninski District Court of Mahiliou fined the chairman of the Mahiliou regional coalition of democratic forces Yury Novikau 5,850,000 rubles for distributing leaflets and collecting signatures against a Russian airbase in the territory of Belarus.

30.10.2013 Miklos Haraszti’s report on Belarus presented and discussed at the UN General Assembly in New York

On October 28, the UN General Assembly in New York hosted a presentation and interactive dialogue of national delegations on the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Miklos Haraszti.

29.10.2013 Political prisoner Vaskovich is in information blockade

For over a month the political prisoner’s relatives and friends have not been receiving letters from him.

29.10.2013 EU to extend sanctions against Lukashenka regim

The statement was made by head of the EU delegation to Belarus Maira Mora.

29.10.2013 Marathon in memory of Stalin repression victims starts with detentions

Today, on the Day of Remembrance of the victims of totalitarian repression, police detained participants of a mourning marathon and journalists, Radio Liberty’s Belarus service reports.

29.10.2013 Ales Bialiatski may receive Lithuanian Freedom Prize

Lithuanian civil society activists are discussing the possibility of awarding the Belarusian political prisoner, human rights defender Ales Bialiatski the Freedom Prize. This is reported by the Lithuanian media, in particular delfi.lt.