News on the topic: human rights defenders
11.10.2011 Friends and relatives don't receive letters from Ales Bialiatski any more
Ales Bialiatski's friends and relatives stopped receiving any letters from him. In particular, the last letter received by his wife Natallia is dated 20 September. Some of Ales's friends haven't received to three or more letters already.
10.10.2011 Human rights defenders remind Belarusians about the problem of death penalty (photo report)
On 10 October, the World Day against the Death Penalty, civil activists and volunteers held informational actions in different parts of Belarus. In Minsk, activists of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty” came to Nezalezhnasts Avenue to remind passers-by that the Belarusian state still kills people. People eagerly took the informational booklets that were distributed by the human rights defenders. There are many people who are concerned with this problem. Some of them even started discussions with the activists.
10.10.2011 Burmese dissident Aung San Suu Kyi expresses solidarity with Ales Bialiatski
Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the world famous dissidents, joined the international campaign for the protection of the Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
10.10.2011 Do “black lists” return?
At about 4.30 p.m. on 8 October Belarusian border guards took away the passports of human rights defenders viktar Sazonau (in the photo) and Yan Roman, who were returning home from Bialystok. They were kept in the hall of the customs office for some time, but were returned their passports and let go after they demanded the complaint book.
10.10.2011 Minsk procuracy turns down Barys Bukhel's appeal
Mahiliou human rights defender Barys Bukhel appealed against the refusal of investigator Kasynkina to change the restraint to human rights defender Ales Bialiatski who is kept in custody on charges in tax evasion on an especially large scale.
10.10.2011 Actions in support of Ales Bialiatski are still banned in Belarus
On 10 October the Leninski District Court fined human rights defender Viktar Sasonau, who had been detained on 23 august for handing out leaflets with information about the arrest of Ales Bialiatski, chairman of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”. The same day the police held a search at his apartment, confiscated two computer system units, informational and human rights editions and T-shirts with Bialiatski's portraits.
07.10.2011 Statement of Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi in support of Ales Bialiatski
Shirin Ebadi, well-known Iranian human rights activist and lawyer, awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, gave a statement on the case of her Belarusian colleague Ales Bialiatski :
07.10.2011 Orsha: all policemen are away at dance parties
As it follows from the answer given to Orsha human rights defenders Vasil Berasneu and Vasil Leuchankau by Anatol Silchanka, head of the Orsha District Police Department, the situation with police personnel in Orsha is catastrophic.
07.10.2011 Monkey business of Mazyr officials
Mazyr human rights defender Uladzimitr Tseliapun still hopes to hold a picket in support of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski. However, the local authorities try to invent different pretexts not to allow the action.
06.10.2011 Homel: court takes the side of city authorities
On 6 October Siarhei Shytsikau, Judge of the Tsentralny Distrift Court of Homel, turned down the appeal of human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka against the refusal of the Mahiliou City Executive Committee to authorize pickets in support of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, who is kept under arrest on criminal charges.
05.10.2011 Human rights defenders recognize Alinevich, Dziadok and Frankevich political prisoners
Human Rights Center "Viasna" and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee recognized Ihar Alinevich, Mikalai Dziadok and Aliaksandr Frantskevich as political prisoners of the present regime. The human rights defenders came to this conclusion on the basis of analysis of the so-called “Case of Anarchists”.
05.10.2011 FIDH and Viasna: Inhumane treatment and threats to the lives of Belarusian political prisoners must stop!
Paris-Minsk, 4 October 2011 – International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisation in Belarus, Human Rights Center “Viasna”, strongly condemn the inhuman treatment of political prisoners in Belarusian prisons. Reliable sources indicate that psychological and physical pressure continues on political prisoners still in detention in Belarus, including death threats, unjustified transfers and appalling health care provision.
05.10.2011 Organizing committee of 29 people nominates Ales Bialiatski for Nobel Peace Prize
A specially created organizational committee nominates Ales Bialiatski for Nobel Peace Prize. It includes 29 people. Among them there are Belarusian activists Aliaksandr Milinkevich (movement "For Freedom!") and Zhanna Litvina ("Belarusian Association of Journalits"), Russian human rights defender Liudmila Aliakseyeva, President of the International Human Rights Federation Souhayr Belhassen, executive director of the non-governmental organization “Freedom House” David Kramer, President of the Belarusian People Republic's Council Ivonka Survilla and other famous persons.
04.10.2011 Two months have passed since the arrest of Ales Bialiatski
Today, on 4 October, there turns two months since the detention of the well-known Belarusian human rights activist, vice-president of the International Federation of Human Rights Ales Bialiatski.
03.10.2011 Actions to immediately release political prisoners in Belarus discussed at the OSCE Human Dimension Conference
The parallel event “Ales Bialiatski: symbolical case of violation of political and political rights in Belarus after the presidential elections of 2010” took place within the framework of the yearly Human Dimension Meeting of the OSCE. It was organized by a coalition of human rights organizations including the Norwegian Human Rights Committee, Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, World Organization against Torture, Amnesty International, Human Rights House Foundation, Human Rights Watch, Front Line, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Center Viasna. It was attended by former political prisoner Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, presidential candidate Vital Rymasheuski and leaders of the democratic parties of Belarus.
