The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

06.08.2012 Belarusian TV: Stefan Eriksson “was engaged in subversive activity in our country”

Official Belarusian TV-channels told “the truth” about the Swedish ambassador. Yesterday evening TV-channels Belarus-1 and ONT reported on the expulsion of Swedish ambassador Stefan Eriksson.

02.08.2012 Belarusian Association of Journalists sends urgent appeal to Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression concerning Anton Surapin’s case

The letter signed by the Deputy Chairperson of BAJ Andrei Bastunets has been sent to the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Mr. Frank La Rue on 2 August.

01.08.2012 Website palitviazni.info now available in foreign languages

Now the website about Belarusian political prisoners has English, Polish and Russian versions.

01.08.2012 Minsk: detention of “European Belarus” activists

Mikita Kavalenka and Aliaksei Tsioply were detained for handing out information bulletins “Charter'97”.

30.07.2012 Reporters Without Borders condemns journalist Vital Ruhayn’s arrest in Minsk

“Vital Ruhayn’s arrest is indicative of the regime’s sensitivities about matters related – closely or otherwise – to the Minsk bombing and national security,” Reporters Without Borders said. “A journalist should not be arrested for highlighting police violations of security regulations. We call for the withdrawal of the trumped-up charges brought against him.”

27.07.2012 Pavel Sapelka: Situation with Anton Surapin’s detention in KGB prison reminds of December 2010

Human rights lawyer Pavel Sapelka says the current situation of journalist Anton Surapin, who has been reportedly denied access to his lawyer for two days, may repeat the events of December 2010, when persons arrested on charges of involvement in mass riots were not able to meet their counsels for weeks.

27.07.2012 Lawyer has no access to Surapin for two days

A lawyer was not allowed to see his client Anton Surapin in the KGB jail on July 25 and 26.

BelaPAN learned it from the mother of the jailed photographer.

26.07.2012 German MP takes on prisoner’s godparenthood for Anton Surapin

Bijan Djir-Sarai, Member of the German Bundestag and of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, has taken on a prisoner’s godparenthood for Anton Surapin.

26.07.2012 Euroradio reporter Vital Ruhain released, court orders case review

Vital Ruhain, journalist of the Euroradio independent channel, has been released in the courtroom, after Judge Tatsiana Tkachova ordered to review the case.

26.07.2012 Journalist Vital Ruhain detained again

The journalist is expected to be tried on July 26.

24.07.2012 Amnesty International urges Belarus to release “teddy bear” free speech activist

A photographer and journalism student faces up to seven years in prison after posting pictures of a stunt involving teddy bears to draw attention to violations of freedom of expression in Belarus, prompting Amnesty International to call for his immediate release.

24.07.2012 Euroradio reporter Vital Ruhain detained on Lithuanian border

Vital Ruhain, journalist of the Euroradio independent channel, was detained when crossing the Lithuanian border this morning, the Nasha Niva newspaper reports.

23.07.2012 Anton Surapin not released, no suit brought

The journalist's 10-day term of detention in KGB prison has ended today, on July 23. However, the investigation has been prolonged.

19.07.2012 Committee to Protect Journalists: KGB puts editor in jail over photos of teddy bears

New York, July 18, 2012--Belarusian security agents should immediately release a website editor who has been jailed for publishing photographs of teddy bears, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.