News on the topic: Viasna
25.02.2009 Swedish Helsinki Committe issues statement on Nasha Viasna registration
The Swedish Helsinki Committe has addressed Ms Natalia Petkevich, First Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus, with an open letter concerning the registration of the Nasha Viasna human rights organization and urging the presidential administration to ensure registration of 'this important human rights organisation.'
23.02.2009 Aliaksandr Milinkevich speaks in support of Nasha Viasna
Aliaksandr Milinkevich, Belarusian politician who was nominated by the leading opposition parties in Belarus to run against Lukashenka in the presidential election on 19 March 2006, commented on the situation with the registration of the Nasha Viasna human rights organization. ‘Nasha Viasna is the leading Belarusian human rights NGO with an excellent history. Its members specialize in various kinds of human rights activities – monitoring human rights violations, providing assistance to individuals and organizations. And I think it is very important that this association be granted registration.
20.02.2009 Dzmitry Zavadski’s mother speaks in support of Nasha Viasna
Volha Zavadskaya, the mother of the disappeared journalist Dzmitry Zavadski, has expressed her support of the founders and the members of the Nasha Viasna human rights association. ‘I have known Viasna for 10 years already. I am very glad that the organization keeps working. Its members have provided a lot of legal assistance. I am very sorry they lost their legal status in 2003. I think it intolerable that the organization cannot obtain registration. Every citizen of Belarus has a right to protect his or her rights, and organizations that help us do this should exist legally. So I am for the registration of Nasha Viasna in Belarus.’
19.02.2009 Aliaksandr Kazulin speaks in support of Nasha Viasna
Aliaksandr Kazulin, ex-rector of Belarusian State University and ex-presidential candidate, expressed his vision concerning the registration of the Nasha Viasna human rights organization. ‘I think that the official registration of the Nasha Viasna human rights association is a necessary condition for our citizens to understand that they can be somehow protected against the law. The organization has a long history with many good deeds behind, and these are concrete cases not to be denied by anyone. And its illegal status makes me fear that the official Minsk cannot act honestly in its relations with Europe and find any definite and clear policy. To me, Viasna is one of the most effective human rights organizations, which has been active for almost 13 years, rendering assistance to ordinary people.’
02.02.2009 Will Justice Ministry register ‘Nasha Viasna’?
The Ministry of Justice is sending letters to the founders of Nasha Viasna (Our Spring) NGO. Judging by the its preceding practice in registration of NGOs, such actions seem to be aimed at finding some inaccuracies concerning the constituent assembly that was held by the initiators of the establishment of the NGO.
26.01.2009 Statement on Nasha Viasna registration
On 26 January 2009 the Nasha Viasna human rights organization applied for registration to the Ministry of Justice of Belarus. The decision by the Supreme Court of Belarus of 28 January 2003 to liquidate the human rights center Viasna was an outrage against the freedom of association, guaranteed by the Belarusian Constitution and international human rights agreements. On 24 June 2007 the UN Human Rights Committee adopted a resolution, stating that by closing down Viasna the Belarusian authorities violated Article 22-1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In its resolution the UNHCC confirmed Viasna’s right to adequate means of legal protection, including re-registration and compensation. It also obliged the Belarusian government to take precautions against similar violations in future.
19.01.2009 Another chance for Viasna
On 18 January Minsk hosted the constituent assembly of the public human rights association ‘Nasha Viasna’, co-founded by a number of leading human rights activists, journalists and public figures which had earlier been members of the HR organization Viasna, closed down by the Supreme Court of Belarus in 2003. As a result, Ales Bialiatski, influential human rights expert and FIDH Vice-president, was elected head of the organization. The closure was followed by numerous attempts to regain state registration; all of them were turned down due to trivial reasons.
15.09.2008 Human rights center
A document entitled ‘Decision for provision of civil security and road safety in Brest oblast during preparation and holding of the elections of deputies to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the fourth convocation’, signed by the head of the head of the internal affairs department of Brest oblast executive committee, lieutenant-colonel V.Krasnichenka, and agreed with the head of Brest oblast KGB department L.Dziadkou and the procurator of Brest oblast, senior justice advisor S.Khmaruk.
17.04.2008 Viasna to appeal against registration ban
The key persons of the human rights center Viasna are trying to regain official status for their organization by appealing against the decision of the Supreme Court of Belarus depriving Viasna of state registration. In case their claim is not met again, the activists intend to address the UN Human Rights Committee.
10.04.2008 Human rights activists protest against customs searches
Human rights activists Ales Bialiatski and Valiantsin Stefanovich have addressed the Customs department with a request to provide explanations concerning numerous searches by Belarusian customs officials during their travels abroad this year. The activists say their claims can be used by other persons facing similar problems while crossing Belarusian border.
28.03.2008 Open letter to the Belarusian authorities
The Human Rights Center “Viasna” and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) issue joint statement demanding to stop persecution of Katsiaryna Salauyova
27.03.2008 On March 25th Belarusian authorities demonstrated their attitude to human rights
Viasna's statement about the events on March 25th
13.12.2007 Human Rights Activists Remind Navumau about Political Prisoners
On 13 December a group of human rights activists consisting of the deputy chair of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Ales Bialiatski, the human rights activists Alena Laptsionak, Valiantsin Stefanovich and Siarzhuk Sys passed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus (MIA) thousands of origami cranes which had been prepared by the international human rights organization Amnesty International for liberation of the political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich.
12.12.2007 Brest: Unknown Persons again Damage Automobile of Human Rights Activist Vialichkin
The citizen of Brest Uladzimir Vialichkin parks his Nissan near the multistoried building where he lives. All paid garages and car parks are far away. A police car has always stood near the house, that’s why the human rights activist thought that there was no need to be afraid for his car.
10.12.2007 Belarusian Authorities Defy Human Rights. Statement of Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’
Human Rights Center 'Viasna' states with a grave concern that Belarus does not respect the fundamental civil and political rights. The violations of these rights are systematic. They are defined by the conscious politics of the state authorities and their top leaders...
