The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

The Human Rights Center "Spring" has been working without its leader, Ales Bialiatski, for six months already. The human rights activist was detained on 4 August 2011, and sentenced to 4.5 years in maximum security colony with confiscation of property on 24 November.

In the morning of 6 February cars with furniture and slogans: “Human rights got evicted” appeared near the entrance of the Belarusian Embassy in the Czech Republic, marking the start of an action in support of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski and the Human Rights Center “Viasna”.

Minsk – 25 January 2012 The Human Rights Center “Viasna” strongly condemns the use of torture, intimidation, blackmail and other intolerable kinds of harassment against prisoners of conscience. Of especial concern is the recent report by Mrs. Iryna Khalip, the wife of former presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau, saying that the prisoner’s life is at risk due to the reported use of torture and inhuman treatment against him.

Despite yesterday’s ruling by the Minsk City Court confirming the 4.5-year prison term to Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski, the Human Rights Center “Viasna” will continue its activities on a regular basis in the office it has occupied unless the premises are seized.

On 19 January, deputy chair of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Valiantsin Stefanovich lodged a complaint with Minsk City Court demanding to reverse an earlier decision of 16 December 2011 by Minsk Partyzanski District Court to exact 56 mln. rubles of fine for alleged tax violations.

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" calls on the Belarusian authorities to immediately stop the persecution of the activist of the Conservative-Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front” Siarhei Kavalenka.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), condemns the sentencing of Mr. Valiantsin Stefanovich, Vice-Chairman of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna”, by to a fine of 53 million rubles (about 4,840 euros).

On 10 December Belarusian human rights activists held actions in many Belarusian towns and cities to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The administrative trial on exaction of taxes from Valiantsin Stefanovich started at the Partyzanski District Court of Minsk at 10 a.m on 1 December. It was to have taken place back on 15 November, but was postponed as the defendant couldn't attend it for family reasons.

On 29 November lawyer Dzmitry Layeuski filed an appeal against the verdict of the Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk to human rights defender Ales Bialiatski with the Minsk City Court.