04.10.2011 Two months have passed since the arrest of Ales Bialiatski
Today, on 4 October, there turns two months since the detention of the well-known Belarusian human rights activist, vice-president of the International Federation of Human Rights Ales Bialiatski.
03.10.2011 Actions to immediately release political prisoners in Belarus discussed at the OSCE Human Dimension Conference
The parallel event “Ales Bialiatski: symbolical case of violation of political and political rights in Belarus after the presidential elections of 2010” took place within the framework of the yearly Human Dimension Meeting of the OSCE. It was organized by a coalition of human rights organizations including the Norwegian Human Rights Committee, Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, World Organization against Torture, Amnesty International, Human Rights House Foundation, Human Rights Watch, Front Line, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Center Viasna. It was attended by former political prisoner Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, presidential candidate Vital Rymasheuski and leaders of the democratic parties of Belarus.
23.09.2011 Happy birthday, Ales Bialiatski!
Fellow activists of the Belarusian human rights movement are sending their best wishes on Ales Bialiatski’s upcoming birthday on 25 September.
21.09.2011 Viasna suggests appealing dismissals of petitions for Bialiatski’s release
Numerous petitions for the pre-trial release of Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski have been dismissed by the State Control Committee investigators.
19.09.2011 Mourning and condolences
On 18 September, a severe illness cut short the life of Mrs. Halina Siamdzianava, 65, a prominent figure of the Belarusian opposition movement, former member of the Supreme Soviet of the 12th convocation.
15.09.2011 Human Rights Center Viasna: 15 years of persecution
Since its inception in 1996, the human rights organization “Viasna 96”, and then the Human Rights Center Viasna was consequently and ruthlessly persecuted by the Belarusian authorities. All members of this organization were subject to detention, beatings, raids, arrests and fines. A complete list of the facts of persecution would take more than a dozen pages. However, most often the lightning of the state anger fell on the highest point of the organization, its head Ales Bialiatski.
13.09.2011 “Ales Bialiatski’s Candle of Truth”
“Ales Bialiatski’s Candle of Truth” – a video with such a title has been uploaded today at the video portal YouTube. Friends, colleagues and well-known public figures of Belarus are trying to determine the role and the place of the prominent human rights defender in our society and express their attitude towards his prosecution and imprisonment.
08.09.2011 Statement of HRC Viasna about conditions for dialogue with Belarusian authorities
If there are political prisoners, a dialogue is impossible. There is a great risk of taking new political hostages by the authorities if the political system is not transformed.
16.08.2011 Sign personal guarantee for Ales Bialiatski!
Ales Bialiatski, Chairperson of the Human Rights Center Viasna and vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), was detained on 4 August 2011 within the framework of a criminal case brought under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, "Concealment of income on a large scale". This article envisages up to seven years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
15.08.2011 Send a letter of support to Ales Bialiatski!
The Human Rights Center “Viasna” would like to thank all those who have sent letters to Ales Bialiatski, who is currently in custody in Minsk pre-trial center.
11.08.2011 Nobel Prize holder Shirin Ebadi joins campaign of support to Ales Bialiatski
On 10 August well-known Iranian human rights activist and lawyer Shirin Ebadi, awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, joined the campaign in support of Ales Bialiatski, launched by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) in cooperation with the Human Rights Centre Viasna.
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.
28.07.2011 UN committee says executions in Belarus violate international obligations
27 July 2011 – The United Nations Human Rights Committee today accused Belarus of violating its international agreements by executing two persons while their cases were still under review by the committee.
26.07.2011 By executing two more death sentences Belarus violated the citizens’ right to appeal to the UN Human Rights Committee
The information on two more death sentences reportedly executed in Belarus last week has been confirmed by the mother of one of the executed persons Andrei Burdyka. On 25 July, Mrs. Burdyka visited Minsk detention center #1 and the center’s chief told the lady her son had been executed. The personal belongings of Mrs. Burdyka’s son were given to her.
