22.01.2015 Yury Rubtsou goes on indefinite hunger strike
The political prisoner demands a job with the country's average salary of $600.
22.01.2015 Mahiliou Human Rights Center faces dissolution again
The only registered regional human rights organization is once again on the verge of closing.
22.01.2015 Human rights activists protest during President Aliyev’s visit to Berlin
On January 21, representatives of the Berlin-based European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) and local activists of Reporters without Borders held a protest outside the office of the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, who met with the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
22.01.2015 Journalists to stand trial in Svetlahorsk
On January 23, the Svetlahorsk District Court will consider the administrative charges brought against Homel journalists Larysa Schyrakova and Kanstantsin Zhukouski. They are accused of “violating the order of holding mass events” (Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code).
22.01.2015 Mahiliou Regional Court turns down appeal by independent newspaper in Krychau
On December 21, the judicial board on civil cases of the Mahiliou Regional Court rejected an appeal of Uladzimir Kudrautsau, the publisher of newspaper Volny Horad, against a decision of the Krychau District Court taken on December 8 at the suit of the chief of department of ideology, culture and youth affairs of the Krychau district executive committee Maryna Maksimava for the protection of honor, dignity and business reputation.
22.01.2015 Human rights organizations demand an immediate cessation of the criminal prosecution of political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok and his release from jail
FIDH, HRC "Viasna" and BHC express deep concern with the serious threats to the life and health of Mikalai Dziadok and emphasize that the entire responsibility for his safety and protection lies with the administration of the prison No. 4 in Mahiliou and the management of the Department of Corrections of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.
21.01.2015 Anarchists stand trials in Minsk
On January 21, the Leninski District Court of Minsk sentenced two activists of the anarchist movement to an administrative arrest of 15 days each.
21.01.2015 Amnesty International Russia: Act on undesirable organizations to tighten noose on dissent’s neck
The draft law banning “undesirable foreign organizations” in Russia is another disturbing signal, which indicates that the authorities are taking drastic measures in order to restrict any public space for criticism, said Amnesty International Russia today.
21.01.2015 Prosecutor General’s Office replies to journalist’s complaint
Mahiliou freelance journalist Ales Burakou has received an answer to his complaint, which he sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office. The reply is signed by First Deputy Prosecutor of the Mahiliou region Aleh Pimashkou.
21.01.2015 Activist in Salihorsk appeals runaround in police raid abuse
Uladzimir Lemesh, activist of the European Belarus opposition movement in the town of Salihorsk, has filed an appeal in the Minsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office to challenge an earlier decision of the District Prosecutor’s Office on a search carried out in his apartment back in September 2014.
20.01.2015 Lawyer Pavel Sapelka: It is essential that hate crimes receive adequate assessment of state
The case of beating Mikhail Pishcheuski will be re-examined by the Tsentralny District Court of Minsk. This decision was taken by the panel of judges of the Minsk City Court, having considered on December 9 an appeal filed by the victim’s mother, human rights activist Tatsiana Reviaka told BelaPAN.
20.01.2015 Political prisoner Yury Rubtsou receives tablet and TV set from activists
Activists raised money and bought food and devices for the political prisoner.
20.01.2015 Constitutional Court supports human rights defenders on Belarusian-language legislation
On January 20, Piotr Miklashevich, Chairman of the Constitutional Court, said when presenting his annual address for the President of Belarus and the two Houses of Parliament “On constitutional legality in the Republic of Belarus in 2014” that the Court considers it appropriate to issue laws in the Belarusian and Russian languages, the government-owned news agency BelTA said today.
20.01.2015 Lohvinau bookstore seeks registration
The Minsk-based Lohvinau bookstore is seeking registration of the business as a distributor of publications. The Supreme Court has held a preliminary hearing on the case. The trial will continue on January 30, according to the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists.
20.01.2015 Baranavichy court dismisses lawsuit against officials who used violence
Dzmitry Varvashenia, deputy chief of ideology, culture and youth affairs of the Baranavichy district executive committee, escaped punishment for the use of physical force against a resident of the village of Malaya Svarotva Ivan Afanasik. The other assaulter, chairman of the Zarechanski collective farm Viktar Savos, did not even appear in court.
