The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

28.06.2012 Disgraceful facts of torture by Minsk police

The mother of Pavel Plaksa, who was detained on suspicion of committing a theft on May 30, 2012, demands to conduct a full-scale investigation into the facts of using torture against her son. After the arrest, Pavel Plaksa was taken to Minsk Leninski District Police Department, where he was reportedly subjected to torture by the policemen.

28.06.2012 Police drag on investigation into mass illegal arrests

The Human Rights Center “Viasna” and the Center for Legal Transformation “Lawtrend” are urging the Investigative Committee and Minsk City Prosecutor’s Office to speed up the investigation into the cases of mass arbitrary detentions at a concert organized by the Food Not Bombs campaign in Minsk-based “Yo-Ma-Yo” club on 24 March.

28.06.2012 Pavel Svyardlou's appeal to be considered on June 29

It has been sent to Minsk city court.

27.06.2012 23 Euros of compensation for each day of illegal arrest

Mrs. Yulia Harachankova, who was detained and sentenced to five days of administrative arrest for involvement in a “silent protest” last summer, has received a compensation for the illegal arrest.

27.06.2012 The UN Human Rights Committee has registered a complaint, filed on behalf of Ales Bialiatski

His wife, Natalia Pinchuk and Antoine Bernard, the Chief executif officer of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), were the ones who filed the complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee on behalf of Ales Bialiatski, the Chairman of the Human Rights Center Viasna, and the Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), who is currently serving a sentence in a penal colony in the city of Bobruiks.

26.06.2012 Malchanau Will Not Be Released

The court rejected political prisoner’s appeal.

26.06.2012 Supreme Court turns down complaint against police stranglers

The Supreme Court has dismissed a complaint lodged by Uladzimir Marozau, who appealed a previous decision to deny prosecution of policemen who reportedly attempted to strangle the disabled person during his arrest on July 6, 2011.

26.06.2012 Former inmate of Minsk detention center criticizes prison conditions

Mrs. Alena Dubovik has lodged a lawsuit against Minsk police department demanding a compensation for the moral damage she reportedly suffered during her imprisonment in a detention center in Akrestsin Street in late March 2012.

26.06.2012 Judge Alena Siamak evades consideration of appeal by Valiantsin Stefanovich

It has been three months now since Valiantsin Stefanovich, deputy chair of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, urged Minsk Tsentralny District Court to appoint the date for the consideration of his appeal against illegal actions by the Ministry of Defense, who imposed foreign travel restrictions on the human rights defender.

25.06.2012 Babruisk programmer keeps crying for right to alternative service

Aleh Yauzrezau, a 22-year-old programmer from the town of Babruisk, is going to make a desperate venture to secure his right to alternative service, after his claims were dismissed by local military conscription commission and later by a court.

25.06.2012 Judge dismisses human rights defender Pahanyayla’s complaint about foreign travel ban

A district judge in Minsk on June 22 dismissed a complaint filed by prominent human rights defender Hary Pahanyayla against the interior and justice ministries over a foreign travel ban.

22.06.2012 Vitsebsk opposition activist demands prosecution of local executive officials

Yan Dziarzhautsau, Vitsebsk activist of the Conservative Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front”, has lodged a complaint with the city’s executive committee, demanding to prosecute local officials who have repeatedly ignored the activist’s appeals.

20.06.2012 Court denies right to alternative service for Pavel Syarhei

The court dismissed a claim by Pavel Syarhei against a decision of the draft board to find him fit for military service.

19.06.2012 Hary Pahaniayla lodges another lawsuit against travel ban

Hary Pahaniayla, chair of the legal commission of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, has lodged tow more lawsuits against the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Justice, who were reportedly involved in imposing travel restrictions on the human rights defender, and several other Belarusian public figures, Radio Racyja reports.