The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

04.06.2013 "Secrets of investigation" disclose details about personality of latest death convict

The program "Secrets of investigation", broadcast at the 1st channel of the Belarusian TV on 1 June, was dedicated to the new death convict.

04.06.2013 Official trade-union conceals real wages at "Bellehpram" concern

Last week, a sitting of the departmental Council on labor and social issues took place. It was attended by the head of the National Committee of the trade union of light industry Mikhail Kastsian, the head of the concern Mikhail Suchkou, the first deputy head of the concern Siarhei Misurahin, etc.

04.06.2013 Hrodna Regional Court to consider case on extremism in "Press-photo Belarus 2011" on 24 June

The Hrodna Regional Court will consider the appeal of Belarus Press Photo-2011 contest on 24 June. The photo albums of the yearly national photo competition were found extremist by court of Ashmiany on 18 April; if the decision is upheld on appeal, 41 copies of the albums will be destroyed.

03.06.2013 Brest:UN Human Rights Committee recognizes violation of the personal immunity of Zhana Koush

The UN Human Rights Committee has taken a decision on a complaint filed by a Brest activist of the Movement "For Freedom", Zhana Koush. The decision states that Belarus violated her right to freedom and personal immunity by unlawful detention.

03.06.2013 Baranavichy: historical feast held despite official bans

On 2 June a historical and cultural feast was held in Milavidy (the Baranavichy district) to commemorate the insurgents of 1863.

03.06.2013 Vitsebsk regional BCD assembly disrupted by authorities

The regional assembly of the Belarusian Christian Democracy was disrupted as a number of regional activists were unable to take part in it, being summonsed to work at the weekend.

03.06.2013 Mikalai Statkevich preparing "Freedom's Way"

While serving his prison term, Mikalai Statkevich uses the assistance of his wife, Maryna Adamovich, in compiling a new book, "Freedom's Way", a collection of his essays and articles for the last decade.

03.06.2013 628 people kept in cell-type prison facilities in Belarus

According to the Belarusian State Statistic Service, 628 people were kept in cell-type prison facilities in Belarus at the end of 2012, the smallest number in the recent years.

31.05.2013 European Humanities University to receive Atlantic Council Freedom Award

The European Humanities University (EHU) – the only Belarusian university that has succeeded in maintaining its academic freedom and independence in the face of enormous government pressure – has been named a recipient of an Atlantic Council Freedom Award. The award will be presented at a ceremony in Wroclaw, Poland on June 14th, informed BC Jurga Mečinskienė.

31.05.2013 Mahiliou court fails to punish official for insulting local social democrats

Today, on May 31, was the last day of the trial initiated by the Belarusian Social Democratic Party and its member Mikalai Zalozny, in particular. After four hearings, Leninski District Court of Mahiliou in the name of Judge Andrei Yurchanka said he could not identify the author of the slander of one of the oldest Belarusian political parties.

31.05.2013 Minsk City Court dismisses appeals by Radio Racyja reporters

Today the judge of the Minsk City Court Valer Kamisarau heard the appeal of two independent journalists Aliaksandr Yarashevich and Henadz Barbarych who were detained on April 27th after the Chernobyl Way demonstration and got three days’ arrest for disobeying police’s demands.

31.05.2013 Tell the Truth Belaaziorsk activist appeals warning under Art. 193.1

Aliaksandr Kuzmin, activist of the Tell the Truth civil campaign from the town of Belaaziorsk, Brest region, filed a complaint with the Regional Prosecutor’s Office to contest a warning he received for alleged illegal NGO membership.

31.05.2013 Parents visit political prisoner Alinevich

Ihar Alinevich, who serves sentence in penal colony No. 10 in Navapolatsk, was allowed a visit with his family. Charter97.org learnt it from his mother Valiantsina Alinevich.

31.05.2013 Pavel Vinahradau detained because of CIS summit

The activist of opposition has been detained for the second day in a row. Pavel Vinahradau wrote that on his Facebook account.

31.05.2013 Trial in Andrei Haidukou’s case scheduled for June 12

According to Andrei Haidukou’s relatives, the case will be heard at 10 a.m. on June 12 in Vitsebsk Regional Court with presiding Judge Halina Urbanovich.