The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

21.02.2012 Does Belarusian Code on Administrative Procedures correspond to international legal acts?

Human rights defender Siarhei Ustsinau has addressed the Constitutional Court of Belarus with an appeal demanding to assess the compliance of the Code on Administrative Procedures with the country’s commitments to secure the right to a fair trial.

16.02.2012 Vitsebsk opposition activists appeal fines

Vitsebsk opposition activists Tatsiana Seviarynets and Iryna Yaskevich have lodged supervisory appeals against a court ruling sentencing them to fines for alleged violation of Mass Events Code during the arrangement of the so-called People’s Assembly back on 8 October 2011.

15.02.2012 Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh still struggles for proper acquittal

On 15 February Aliaksandr Suzhayeu, Judge of the Homel Regional Court, considered the appeal of activist of the United Civil Party and Movement “For Freedom!” Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh against the ruling of the Tsentralny District court of Homel which upheld the dropping of his case because of the impossibility to prove his guilt.

15.02.2012 Hrodna: fine for refusal to be fingerprinted at work

On 10 February Hrodna resident Ruslan Petsko was fined 700,000 rubles (about $83) by Alena Piatrova, Judge of the Leninski District Court of Hrodna.

14.02.2012 Minsk City Court upholds verdict to Valiantsin Stefanovich

On 13 February the Minsk City Court upheld the verdict issued to the to the deputy-head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Valiantsin Stefanovich by the Partyzanski District Court of Minsk.

10.02.2012 Baranavichy: Mikalai Charnavus gets fined by court

On 10 February the Baranavichy City Court considered administrative case against the head of the steering committee of the Ukrainian diaspora association “Kobzar”, Mikalai Charnavus. Judge Stanislau Pivavarau summoned to the trial a representative of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee Siarhei Piatsihorau and police major Vital Dabrachynski.

08.02.2012 Vitsebsk Regional Court upholds sentence to Heorhi Stankevich

Heorhi Stankevich, the editor of the small-circulation newspaper “Kryvinka” applied to the court with the request to review the administrative case according to which he had been fined by the Beshankovichy District Court.

07.02.2012 Mahiliou Regional Court upholds verdict to Babruisk resident

On 6 February, Babruisk resident Artsiom Markhasiou received an official ruling by Mahiliou Regional Court on his appeal against a 700,000-fine for alleged violation of the Mass Events Code requirements of 22 December.

03.02.2012 Minsk City Court to consider Stefanovich's appeal on 13 February

The cassation appeal of Valiantsin Stefanovich against the ruling concerning the exaction of the allegedly non-paid taxes from him will be considered by the Minsk City Court on 13 February. The hearings start at 3 p.m.

01.02.2012 Under-aged Lobau fined for spilling noodles at the entrance of Belarusian State TV and Radio Company

The Maskouski district administrative commission of Minsk considered the case of Uladzislau Lobau, an under-aged activist of the Belarusian National-Bolshevik Party who took part in spilling noodles and scattering leaflets at the entrance of the Belarusian State TV and Radio Company on 3 December 2011. The youngsters did it to express their protest against false information regularly spread by the state media.

01.02.2012 Aleh Volchak “Russian citizens went on hunger-strike in detention center”

The human rights activist reports about lots of illegal migrants in the detention center in Akrestsin Street and two Russians, who went on hunger strike.

31.01.2012 Former police lieutenant-colonel addresses General Procuracy

Viktar Malochka, retired police lieutenant-colonel, applied to the Prosecutor General, A.Kaniuk, with the request to hold a repeated check-up concerning his unlawful detentions in summer 2011 and false testimonies given by officers of the Salihorsk District Police Department.

31.01.2012 Brest: court finds no violations in actions of deputy-head of city administration

Siarhei Vakulenka, na activist of the movement “For Freedom”, filed an appeal with the Leninski District Court of Brest against actions of the deputy head of the Brest City Executive Committee, Viachaslau Khafizau.

30.01.2012 Vitsebsk resident Pyotr Ivanov: detained for leaflets, fined for “dirty swearing”

Vitebsk resident Pyotr Ivanov, a citizen of the Russian Federation, representative of the party "United Russia" and the activist of the civil campaign "Speak Truth," was fined 140,000 rubles for allegedly using foul language. He had been detained for handing out leaflets calling for solidarity with Siarhei Kavalenka.