16.10.2012 Final report on monitoring media coverage of elections presented
Unlike all the previous elections monitored by BAJ, both state-owned and independent media lost interest in election related subjects pretty soon after the polling.
16.10.2012 EU Ministers Keep Sanctions On Belarus
European Union foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg have resolved to keep sanctions in place against Belarus, but they are continuing to hold out the prospect of lifting sanctions if Minsk improves its human rights record.
16.10.2012 Independent journalists in Krychau face obstacles in access to information
The executive authorities of Krychau district (Mahiliou region) are trying to restrict local journalists’ right to receiving information. In particular, local executive officials were ordered not to provide information to the reporters of the Volny Horad independent newspaper.
16.10.2012 Vitsebsk activist Barys Khamaida fined 200,000 rubles
Judge Mrs. Alena Tsyhankova of Vitsebsk Kastrychnitski District Court has found opposition activist Barys Khamaida guilty of committing an offence under Art. 17.1 of the Administrative Code and fined him BYR 200,000.
15.10.2012 Slonim: mechanic gets his wage cut for appeal to labor inspection
Mikhail Soshka, a mechanic of the Slonim knitting factory, applied to the district labor inspection and stated that he and five more workers of the steam-power workshop are forced to do the work that does not belong to their circle of duties and is dangerous for the factory and their own lives.
15.10.2012 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders protests against arbitrary closure of "Platforma"
Here is the full text of the Observatory's Urgent Appeal on this case.
15.10.2012 Belarusian border gurads tortured Indian migrants to obtain false testimonies against civil activist Vital Koush
On 4 September the civil activist from Brest Vital Koush received charges under Article 371-1, part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus – organization of unlawful migration, which envisages up to 7 years of imprisonment.
15.10.2012 Former candidate sues Brest City Executive Committee
Aliaksandr Melnik, a Brest citizen who ran for the Parliament at the latest election at the Brest-Western constituency #1, filed a lawsuit to court after receiving an answer from the city authorities.
15.10.2012 Bialiatski: “These 209 postcards lifted my mood for 209 days and filled me with energy”
The imprisoned head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” and vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Ales Bialiatski writes that he is still trying to answer all congratulations he receives on his 50th birthday. He counted about 700 by 4 October.
15.10.2012 Rahachou: civil activist Dznianis Dashkevich fined 3 million rubles
On 12 October the Rahachou City Court took a decision on the law suit of the district’s newspaper “Svabodnaye Slova” against the creator of a local web-site Dzianis Dashkevich.
15.10.2012 Opposition activist Uladzimir Siakerka searched on the border
Uladzimir Siakerka, a member of the “Fair World” party, was taken off Chernihiv-Homel train at Tsiarukha station on the border on 14 October.
15.10.2012 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in September 2012
The situation of human rights in Belarus remained stably bad in September. At the same time, important changes in the situation of political prisoners took place – two political prisoners were released: Vitsebsk activist of the Conservative-Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front” Siarhei Kavalenka and an activist of the anarchist movement Pavel Syramalotau (on 26 and 27 September respectively). Both political prisoners had written pardon petitions for Lukashenka back in June 2012. However, the decision about their release was taken only three months after.
12.10.2012 Democratic activists sentenced to 5 days of arrest for action against state propaganda
As stated to RFE/RL by Bolha Burnevich, the leader of the youth initiative “Alternative” Aleh Korban and an activist Uladzimir Siarheyeu were detained for an action against the propaganda on Belarusian TV.
12.10.2012 Marathon race for freedom of Ales Bialiatski (photos)
The human rights defender Uladzimir Malei regularly reminds the society about the imprisoned head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski during marathon races, not only in Belarus but also abroad.
12.10.2012 Leaflets in support of Ales Bialiatski posted in Slonim
Members of the Slonim democratic association held an action in support of the imprisoned human rights defender Ales Bialiatski.
