The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

01.04.2013 Another activist of independent trade union dismissed from "Granite"

Anatol Litvinka, one of the founders of the independent trade union organization at Mikashevichy plant "Granite", was dismissed by an order of the "Granite" director general, Eduard Haurylkovich.

01.04.2013 Death penalty was discussed in Belarusian regions

A number of public discussions concerning the death penalty was held in the Belarusian regions last week. On 27 March a public discussion was held in Mahiliou, on 30 March – in Hrodna and on 31 March – in Minsk.

01.04.2013 Shklou District Council concerned over abuses of its members

The question "On law-abidance and norms of deputies' ethics" was considered at the latest session of Shklou District Council. As stated by Shklou district newspaper "Udarnyi Front", the reason for that was the recent increase in the number of abuses by deputies of councils of all levels in Mahiliou region and the city of Mahiliou.

01.04.2013 Babruisk: presentation of book about Ales Bialiatski held not far from the penal colony where he is kept

On 30 March the presentation of the books "Bialiatski's Case" and "Enlightened by Belarusian Issue" was held in Babruisk.

01.04.2013 Mikalai Autukhovich: "The new leader is among us"

In his letter the political prisoner reflexes on the possible changes awaiting Belarus and shares his latest news.

01.04.2013 Why are detainees kept in jail at weekends?

Brest human rights defender Raman Kisliak filed appeals to the Minister of Interior of Belarus, Ihar Shunevich, and the head of the Supreme Court, Valiantsin Sukala, asking to provide "prompt delivery of administrative detainees to courts for trials".

01.04.2013 Bailiffs confiscate TV set from Bialiatski's family

Mikhail Hastela, a bailiff of Partyzanski District Court of Minsk, confiscated a TV set from Natallia Pinchuk, wife of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski.

31.03.2013 INVITATION – PRESS CONFERENCE

The Human Rights Center “Viasna” invites media representatives to attend a press conference to be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 1, 2013, in Viasna’s new office at 8-26 Miarzhynski Street.

30.03.2013 Bialynichy resident fined 5 mln over libeling manager of state-owned farm

Judge Uladzimir Huz of Bialynichy District Court sentenced yesterday Valery Vusik, resident of the village of Lebiadzianka, to a fine of 5 mln rubles for allegedly defaming manager of the Lebiadzianka state-owned farm Piotr Bialou and for the distribution of the independent newspaper “Mahiliouski Vybar”. The court considered two administrative charges at a time. Both were based on reports by policeman Siarhei Karytkin. Earlier, the court refused to consider the reports, as they were made in violation of Article 10.2 of the Administrative Code. The police reports were sent back for revision in Bialynichy police department, where they were eventually “finalized”.

29.03.2013 Siarhei Kavalenka fined one million rubles

Vitsebsk Pershamaiski District Court sentenced Siarhei Kavalenka, member of the Conservative Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front”, to a fine of one million rubles based on police reports saying that the former political prisoner was drunk, used “obscene language” and “waved his arms” on March 25. The activist did not admit any of these charges.

29.03.2013 Homel court fines opposition activists

The court of Homel’s Navabelitski district considered today the charges brought against the UCP deputy chairman Vasil Paliakou and civil society activist Uladzimir Shytsikau. Earlier this morning, the pro-democratic activists were summoned to the police department.

29.03.2013 Family of UCP Babruisk leader detained at border

Viktar Buzinayeu, the leader of the Babruisk office of the United Civil Party, was detained, together with his daughter and wife, this morning while crossing the Belarusian border on his way from Kiev to Babruisk. Ukrainian border guards have been no problems, and Belarusian interested in brochures, which lay at the side door of the car.

29.03.2013 Homel opposition activists summoned by police over Freedom Day rally

Vasil Paliakou, deputy chairman of the United Civil Party, received last evening a summons to appear in the police department of Homel’s Navabelitski district “for administrative procedures”.

29.03.2013 Political prisoner Dzyadok thrown into punishment cell for 6 days

Mikalai Dzyadok met with his lawyer in prison in Mahilou on March 28. Radio Svaboda has learnt it from his father Alyaksandr Dzyadok.

28.03.2013 LGBT human rights activist Siarhei Androsenka stripped to shorts at customs control, his passport seized

Siarhei Androsenka, activist of the GayBelarus LGBT human rights movement, was detained at the Hudahai border check point while returning from Vilnius by train. His personal belongings were carefully examined.