The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

19.03.2013 European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Belarus Justas Paleckis arrives in Minsk

Justas Paleckis, 71, European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Belarus, arrived in Minsk on a working visit to end on March 21. The purpose of the visit is the preparation of the report on the state of relations between the EU and Belarus, the BelaPAN news agency reports.

19.03.2013 Anti-nuke activist Novikava wins appeal against Lithuania entry ban

Minsk, 19 March. A circuit civil court in Vilnius upheld on Monday Belarusian environmental activist Tatsyana Novikava`s appeal against the Lithuanian foreign ministry`s decision to ban her from entering the country.

19.03.2013 Slonim hospital staff forcefully subscribed to official press

The staff at the Slonim district hospital are made to subscribe to an official newspaper.

19.03.2013 Mahiliou authorities ban Freedom Day festivities

Mrs. Ala Halushka, head of the ideology department of Mahiliou city executive committee, told local pro-democratic activists about the reasons to ban public celebrations on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic. It turns out that such activities should be included in the annual plan. If there is no such event in the plan, the authorities cannot help.

19.03.2013 Salihorsk detention center closed for repairs

As reported by local human rights defenders, the Salihorsk-based temporary detention center is undergoing repair and maintenance work.

19.03.2013 “Wave of Solidarity” covers Brest

Members of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Ulad Barouski, Yahen Khaziakhmetau and Andrus Sharenda held yesterday a street action in Brest within the “Wave of Solidarity” campaign. The young people were handing out leaflets about Belarusian political prisoners. They were also expected to put up white-red-white flags in central Brest, but were detained by plainclothes policemen.

19.03.2013 Police question activists of Tell the Truth campaign

Valiantsin Lazarenkau and Aliaksandr Kuzmin, activists of the Tell the Truth civil campaign, were questioned yesterday as witnesses by Biaroza district police deputy chief Senior Lieutenant Mikalai Prakurat.

18.03.2013 Belarusian Christian Democracy activists detained in Brest

Three activists of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party were detained this afternoon at an action of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners in Brest, the BCD’s press-service reports.

18.03.2013 Free trade union leader to sue employer over dismissal

Viktar Stukau, activist of the Free Trade Union of Belarus, fired for allegedly violating safety rules, is suing his employer. He believes that the administration of the Polatsk-Shklovalakno state-owned enterprise initiated his dismissal on spurious reasons, and the true cause for it was his activities in the independent trade union. The lawsuit is expected to be heard today at Polatsk Town Court.

18.03.2013 Parliament overlooks proposals by NGOs

The Legal Transformation Center (Lawtrend) sent to the Parliament’s Commission on Human Rights a set of proposals for changes in the law on public associations. However, the working group deemed it inappropriate to consider the opinions of NGOs.

18.03.2013 Hrodna court fines BCD activist over picket

Judge Zinaida Bartsevich of Hrodna Kastrychnitski District Court fined today Halina Kotava, local activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, 2.5 mln rubles.

18.03.2013 Tell the Truth campaigns for more control over local budgets

Brest activists of the Tell the Truth civil campaign have lodged a petition with the city executive committee, urging the officials to regularly publish information on spending the budget finances, Radio Racyja reports, quoting the campaign’s activist Ihar Maslouski.

18.03.2013 Belarus deserter gets political asylum in Lithuania

Lithuania grants political asylum to Belarus soldier Sciapan Zacharcanka who can now live in European Union for five years.

17.03.2013 Slonim authorities ban Freedom Day assembly

Mikalai Shykh, deputy chairman of Slonim district executive committee, has issued a ban on holding a meeting to mark the anniversary of the proclamation of independence of the Belarusian People’s Republic back in 1918.

16.03.2013 Police drop charges against journalist Andrzej Poczobut, his guilt not proved

MINSK, March 15. The Office of the Investigative Committee’s Hrodna regional department completed the investigation of criminal charges brought under Par. 2 of Art. 367 of the Criminal Code (“defamation of the President committed by a person who has previously been convicted of libel”) against Hrodna journalist Andrzej Poczobut, the BelaPAN news agency reports.