News on the topic: human rights defenders
08.08.2011 OSCE Chairperson condemns continued action by Belarus against civil society
VILNIUS, 5 August 2011 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, today expressed deep concern over the continued worsening of the human rights situation in Belarus, citing the arrest of Aliaksandr (Ales) Bialiatski, President of the Belarus Human Rights Centre ‘Viasna’ on 4 August 2011 and the search of the NGO’s premises, as the latest example of persecution.
08.08.2011 Marek Migalski filed inquiry with the EU Commission concerning the case of Ales Bialiatski
Following the denunciatory statement by the Chair of the EU Parliament Jerzy Buzek, an inquiry concerning Bialiatski's case was made by member of the European Parliament Marek Migalski.
08.08.2011 FIDH calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Ales Bialiatski
FIDH expresses its deepest concern following the arrest today of Aliaksandr (Ales) Bialiatski, FIDH Vice-President and President of Human Rights Center Viasna.
08.08.2011 UK Minister for Europe voices concern over Bialiatski's arrest
David Lidington, minister of state for Europe at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has expressed deep concern over the detention of Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski.
08.08.2011 President of European Parliament urges to free Ales Bialiatski
Jerzy Buzek released a statement just after the detention of the Belarusian human rights activist. The President of the European Parliament expresses his concern over the ongoing harassment on the Human Rights Center Viasna and its head Ales Bialiatski. Jerzy Buzek urges the Belarusian authorities to release the human rights activist and other political prisoners, PAP informs.
05.08.2011 Human rights defender Ales Bialiatski arrested (updated)
Ales Bialiatski, Chair of the Human Rights Center Viasna, was detained at about 4.45 p.m. near Peramoha Square, by people in mufti who introduced themselves as officers of financial police. This is all he managed to tell to his colleague Uladzimir Labkovich on the phone. Then he was prohibited to talk.
05.08.2011 Statement of Human Rights Center Viasna
On 4 August 2011 Ales Bialiatski, Chair of the Human Rights Center Viasna, vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), was detained within the framework of a criminal case instigated under Article 243, part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, “concealment of profits on an especially large scale”. This article envisages up to 7 years of imprisonment with the confiscation of property.
03.08.2011 Amnesty International: Belarus must drop draconian draft laws banning "silent protests"
The Belarusian government’s proposal to ban almost any kind of protest is yet another assault on the Belarusian people’s right to freedom of expression and assembly, Amnesty International said today.
01.08.2011 Human rights defenders ask for UN Special Rapporteur intervention
Five Belarusian human rights organizations have addressed Gabriela Knaul, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, in connection with the annulment of the licenses to the lawyers who defended figurants of the “19 December mass riot” case.
29.07.2011 Human rights defender Sudalenka on MFA’s statement: “You’ll never share someone’s opinion, unless you implement your obligations”
The UN Human Rights Committee’s statement on Belarus’ violations of its international obligations by executing two death sentences is “injurious”, Belarusian MFA spokesperson Andrei Savinykh said on 28 July.
27.07.2011 Belarusian Helsinki Committee to address UN on disbarred lawyers
The Belarusian Helsinki Committee is going to inform the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers on the situation with Belarusian lawyers, said BHC deputy chair Hary Pahaniayla, speaking on the recent disbarment of several lawyers this week, the BelaPAN news agency reports.
26.07.2011 Human rights mission calls on Belarusian authorities to comply with international treaties on treatment of prisoners
The Observation Mission of the International Committee for Monitoring the Human Rights Situation in Belarus has expressed “deep concern” about the reported maltreatment of Dzmitry Bandarenka, Mikita Likhavid and Andrey Sannikaw who are serving prison sentences after being convicted in connection with the December 19, 2010 post-election protest in Minsk.
22.07.2011 HR defender Paplauny: “The judge that tried me has no right to administer justice in future”
Homel human rights defender Anatol Paplauny has addressed Justice Minister Viktar Halavanau with an appeal, demanding to provide legal assessment to the actions by a judge of Homel Tsentralny District Court, who reportedly pronounced an illegal sentence to the activist.
15.07.2011 Uladzimir Malei lodged comlplaint against his detention
On 14 July Uladzimir Malei, member of the Human Rights Center Viasna from Malaryta, lodged a complaint with the Malaryta District Procuracy concerning unlawful actions of the police officers who had detained him on 13 July in the evening.
13.07.2011 Ales Bialiatski proposes Minsk City Court to declare Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code unconstitutional
Ales Bialiatski, Chair of the Human Rights Center Viasna, expressed this proposal in the cassation appeal against the verdict of the Tsentralny District Court of Minsk of 20 June 2011, according to which the official warning issued to him by the General Procuracy of Belarus was left. in force.
