28.03.2013 Belarusian NGOs call on Russian authorities to stop harassment of human rights defenders
Representatives of Belarusian NGOs issued a joint statement on the recent facts of persecution of NGOs and human rights defenders in the Russian Federation.
28.03.2013 Tell the Truth activist complains of KGB harassment
Aliaksandr Balobin, an activist of the “Tell the Truth” campaign from the town of Klimavichy, filed today a complaint to the Prosecutor's Office of Mahiliou region to challenge the actions by employees of the KGB’s Krychau interdistrict department who detained and interrogated him on March 27. The activist urges the prosecutor to investigate into the illegal detention by the KGB and threats against him, and to bring those responsible to justice in accordance with the law.
28.03.2013 Zhanna Litvina: I expect from Lithuania the firm and principled standing in all issues of freedom of speech…
A conference “What Belarus should expect from Lithuanian presidency in the EU?” took place on March 26 in the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. The conference was arranged within the “Belarusian Week in Vilnius” dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the proclamation of the Belarusian People’s Republic.
28.03.2013 Interior Ministry says “No” to Vitsebsk activists
Khrystafor Zhaliapau, head of Vitsebsk regional office of the movement “For Freedom”, received a reply to his complaint filed to the Interior Ministry after facing another ban on holding a mass event imposed by the city’s police department. Meanwhile, according to a decision of the local executive officials, permission to stage a street event can only be obtained with prior agreement of the police.
28.03.2013 Natallya Pinchuk: Paleckis must show his hand
The situation of political prisoners does not and will scarcely change for the better. Natallya Pinchuk, the wife of political prisoner Ales Byalyatski, gave an interview to charter97.org.
28.03.2013 Klimavichy activist escorted to another town to be questioned by KGB
Aliaksandr Balobin, an activist of the “Tell the Truth” campaign from the town of Klimavichy, was detained yesterday morning outside the building of Klimavichy district military conscription commission by two unknown men who introduced themselves as KGB officers. Aliaksandr Balobin was pushed into a car and taken to another town, KGB’s Krychau interdistrict department, where he was interrogated for three hours.
27.03.2013 Trial of Fair World member resumed in Zhlobin
Zhlobin District Court resumed today the trial of a member of the “Fair World” United Leftist Party Yauhen Basareuski. The trial was expected to start yesterday, March 26, but was resumed only today, after a number of witnesses failed to appear in court. The case was heard by Judge Alena Yarmolchyk.
27.03.2013 “The Queue”: Do not be indifferent! (video)
Activists of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty” created an animated film entitled “The Queue”, which touches on deep philosophical subjects: human life and the indifference of society in relation to the issue of the death penalty.
27.03.2013 Ex-Mayor of Homel complains to UN Human Rights Committee
Mrs. Sviatlana Haldadze, former chair of Homel city executive committee, submitted a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee, contesting a ban on holding a picket on August 4 last year in support of imprisoned human rights defender Ales Bialiatski. The picket was applied for by local human rights activists Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka.
27.03.2013 Chairman of Hrodna Regional Court confirms fines to human rights defenders
Hrodna human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau, Raman Yurhel and Uladzimir Khilmanovich received a response to their complaint, signed by Chairman of Hrodna Regional Court Aliaksandr Hrynkevich. The activists challenged the decision of Leninski District Court of Hrodna, who fined them 1.5 million rubles each for posting a photo on the Internet in solidarity with Ales Bialiatski and the later decision by Hrodna Regional Court on the review of the appeal.
27.03.2013 Nina Bahinskaya taken to hospital from court
A 67-year-old woman fainted at the trial over a picket on Freedom Day.
27.03.2013 Ex-political prisoner Martsaleu banned to leave Belarus for treatment
Siarhei Martsaleu requested the opportunity to go for a few months to Poland, Ukraine and Russia, Euroradio reports.
27.03.2013 Valiantsina Alinevich: Prison conditions in Belarus are a subtle genocide
The law and justice system mutilates and kills Belarusians. This was told by Mrs. Valiantsina Alinevich, mother of political prisoner Ihar Alinevich, in an interview to the charter97.org web-site. She also told what situation her son is in now.
27.03.2013 Supreme Court to consider compulsory security measures and medical treatment
The Plenum of the Supreme Court of Belarus, scheduled for March 28, will for the first time be dedicated to judicial issues related to the use of coercive measures of security and medical treatment in the criminal justice proceedings, the BelaPAN news agency reports, quoting the Supreme Court’s spokeswoman Maryia Lapo.
27.03.2013 Belarus denies accreditation to Belsat TV
Belarusian MFA says local journalists violated media laws on numerous occasions when cooperating with TV channel without accreditation.
