The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

30.08.2007 Five and One Reasons Not to Register Human Rights Association ‘Viasna’

The founders of the human rights public association ‘Viasna’ have finally received an official letter of the Ministry of Justice ‘On refusal of state registration for the public association’. There are several reasons that have been invented by the officials for the refusal.

28.08.2007 Justice Ministry Refuses to Register ‘Viasna’

According to the official site of the Ministry of Justice, ‘the charter of the association does not comply with the law of the Republic Belarus on public associations’.

21.08.2007 Human Rights Activists Meet with First Deputy Minister of Justice Aliaksandr Petrash

On 21 August the human rights activists Ales Bialiatski, Uladzimir Labkovich and Valiantsin Stefanovich had a personal audience with the first deputy minister of Justice Aliaksandr Petrash. First of all, they were interested in the process of registration of the human rights NGO Viasna. Bear in mind that on 23 July the initiative group of human rights activists filed with the Ministry of Justice a packet of documents for registration of the public human rights association Viasna and in two days the Ministry of Justice must announce its decision.

16.08.2007 UN Human Rights Committee Declares Illegal Liquidation of Human Rights Center

Here is the full text version of the appropriate document.

31.07.2007 Human Rights Activists of Viasna Again Try to Obtain State Registration

On 23 July an initiative group of human rights activists applied to the Ministry of Justice for registration of the human rights public association Viasna. In the time when the authorities liquidate many NGOs and refuse to register new ones (as it recently happened to the human rights movement For Freedom!), a group of Belarusian human rights activists decided to unite their forces and try getting a state registration. A well-known human rights activist Ales Bialiatski, vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) told us about the reasons which influenced this decision and the situation of the civil right to association in Belarus:

27.07.2007 27 July: Chronicle of Celebration of State Sovereignty Day in Minsk

4 p.m. – the police detain the chair of United Civil Party Anatol Liabedzka. 4.10 – mass seizures start. The police detain the deputy chair of the BPF Party Viktar Ivashkevich and some other activists.

25.07.2007 Authorities Lose Shame on the Eve of State Sovereignty Declaration Day

The events of 24 July eloquently show the real attitude of the Belarusian authorities to the dialog with the opposition. The recent ease of the regime has ended and now the repressions are getting even harder.

18.07.2007 Ales Kalita: No Time for Leisure, Much Work Is Ahead

Ales Kalita, chairman of the BPF Youth, left Akrestsina jail after 15 days of arrest.

17.07.2007 Criminal Charges Brought against Nasta Azarka

The first interrogation of Nasta Azarka is to take place on Friday.

09.07.2007 Orsha Police Detains Young Front Activist

In the evening of July 8th, officers of Orsha law-enforcement forces detained Ihar Kazmirchak, member of Young Front.

06.07.2007 Zmitser Dashkevich and Nasta Azarka Face New Criminal Charges

Criminal cases might be instigated against Zmitser Dashkevich and Nasta Azarka

05.07.2007 Akrestsina Prison Guards Refuse to Receive Parcel for Ales Kalita

Chairperson of the Council of BPF Youth Ales Kalita was sentenced yesterday to 15 days in jail. Today the prison guards refused to let him receive a parcel with warm clothes.