The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

05.03.2013 Minsk Region Court upholds drafting of Pavel Siarhei

The panel of judges referred to the absence of laws on alternative civilian service and the groundlessness of the draftee's statements that he couldn't serve in the army because of his religious views.

05.03.2013 Belarusian human rights defenders: "Freedom to Bahrain!

On 4 March Belarusian human rights defenders expressed their solidarity with President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and Deputy Secretary General of FIDH Nabeel Rajab who is serving a two-year prison term for actions in support of the right to peaceful assemblies.

05.03.2013 Critical Situation for Political Prisoners in Belarus and Freedom for 40 Activists Considerably Restricted

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its Belarusian member organization, Human Rights Center Viasna, are outraged at the large-scale and systematic acts of repression being inflicted upon both political prisoners and individuals whose freedom has been restricted for political reasons. It hereby releases a document detailing this repression and calls upon the regime to cease its oppressive behavior.

04.03.2013 Amnesty International: Ales Bialiatski supported by about 100,000 people

Amnesty International summed up the results of the world letter marathon in support of Ales Bialiatski. All in all, 104,731 actions were taken to support the Belarusian human rights defender who was declared a prisoner of conscience by this authoritative international organization.

04.03.2013 Andrei Pachobut is threatened with imprisonment

Andrei Pachobut was officially warned about the inadmissibility of participation in an "unauthorized event" on 11 March.

04.03.2013 Homel: prayer within the framework of "Solidarity Wave" held under vigilant watch of "observers in civvies"

On 3 March in Homel members of the the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party held a prayer in support of political prisoners and handed out informational materials about the Belarusian citziens who are kept in jail because of their convictions, civil and political activities.

04.03.2013 Brest: work of members of regional council kept in secret

Liudmila Dzenisenka, the head of Brest city organization of the Belarusian Leftist Party "Fair World", received a runaround from the head of Brest Region Council Siarhei Ashmiantsau.

04.03.2013 Homel: "Secret" entrepreneurs keep struggling

On 3 March in Homel, entrepreneurs of the shopping center "Secret" held another assembly against the groundless increase of the rent and the reluctance of the lessor to conclude rent agreements for one year.

04.03.2013 Belarusian language is squeezed out of district state-owned press

Members of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party hold an action in support of the use of the Belarusian language in the pages of the local state-owned press.

04.03.2013 Workers are proposed money for leaving independent trade union

Tractor Details and Aggregates Plant can be left without independent trade union as a result. Co-existence of two trade union organizations, the independent and the official one – dissatisfies the administration of the Babruisk enterprise. Workers are proposed wage bonuses (up to 1 million rubles) for leaving the independent trade union.

04.03.2013 Case of Shkurko brothers. Police looking for Andrei Bandarenka

The police started paying a special attention to the human rights activist after he distributed information about the alleged torture of the Shkurko brothers at Lida District Police Department.

02.03.2013 Book distributor Ales Yaudakha needs help

Ales Yaudakha is a private book distributor who used to sell Belarusian books by mail. Among them there were books by Vasil Bykau, Uladzimir Arlou, Mikola Yermalovich, Ryhor Baradulin, etc. The tax inspection and the Financial Investigations Department started haunting him after he started selling the book "Maladafrontaucy" ("Young Front" activists"). They considered his activities as unlawful business and passed the case to court.

02.03.2013 Political prisoner Aliaksandr Frantskevich put in penal cell for 20 days

Aliaksandr Frantskevich was visited by his counsel while serving this penalty, which was imposed on him on 19 February.

02.03.2013 Homel human rights defenders congratulate police on professional holiday and remind about rights of national minorities

Homel human rights defenders Maryia Klimovich and Ales Yauseyenka submitted another appeal to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police Department of Homel Region Executive Committee. This one is dated to the Police Day, marked on 4 March.