The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 21 Mar 2011

21.03.2011 Brest human rights defender makes local detention center employ female staff

Brest human rights defender Raman Kisliak received a reply from Leninski District Police Department, confirming the presence of female employees on staff of the local detention center, following a complaint by local resident Inha Abramava submitted to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

21.03.2011 Maladechna human rights defender to be inspected by tax department

On 21 March, Maladechna human rights defender Ales Kaputski was summoned to local tax inspection. The activists say the possible inspection is caused by his civil activity.

21.03.2011 Local authorities ban 25 March solidarity pickets

Vitsebsk, Barysau, Polatsk and Navapolatsk authorities dismissed applications for holding a number of pickets of solidarity with political prisoners on 25 March submitted by local pro-democratic activists.

21.03.2011 Dzmitry Daronin still awaiting charges

The detention of Dzmitry Daronin, arrested on 14 March as a suspect in the 19 December mass riot case, has been extended till 24 March.

21.03.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (March 14-20)

Politically motivated prosecutions have continued to gather pace: charges concerning the 19 December events were brought against another former presidential candidate Dzmitry Us, charges against another former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich were changed. Within the framework of the criminal case, law enforcement agencies continued carrying out interrogations and searches. Ales Mikhalevich left Belarus in fear of another arrest, following his release on recognizance. Human rights defenders encountered new harassment facts. Freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly were still considerably restricted. More detentions were reported. The existence of a “black list” was reported by the media: the authorities banned a number of concerts by Belarusian rock bands. Six artworks to be exhibited at the “Pahonia” art exhibition were rejected due to censorship.

21.03.2011 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in January 2011

The beginning of the year was marked with the ongoing repressions all over the country following the mass action which was held in the center of Minsk in the evening of 19 December to protest against rigging the results of the presidential election. Searches and interrogations at the KGB, sanctioned within the framework of the investigation into the criminal case under Article 293, "mass riot" continued non-stop in January. Criminal and administrative persecution was used not only towards participants of the peaceful action, but also towards representatives of the civil society and independent media, despite a wide international response and the demands of the EU and the US to urgently stop reprisals against citizens.

21.03.2011 Viasna protests against bans and censorship of musical bands

The Human Rights Center “Viasna” has released a statement protesting against the reimposure of anti-Constitutional practice of bans and censorship of musical bands and performers.

21.03.2011 Mahiliou and Homel authorities ban 25 March solidarity pickets

Mahiliou and Homel city executive committees dismissed applications for holding pickets of solidarity with political prisoners scheduled by local pro-democratic activists for 25 March.

21.03.2011 Ales Bialiatski’s appeal put in inspection file on Mikhalevich’s torture report

On 17 March, spokesman of the General Prosecutor’s Office told the media that the prosecuting authorities were inspecting the allegations of torture reported by former presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevich and a number of other KGB prisoners.

21.03.2011 BPF Mahiliou leader questioned by counterintelligence

On 19 March, Zmitser Salauyou, chair of the Belarusian Popular Front’ Mahiliou regional office, was interrogated by Minsk department of military counterintelligence as a witness in the 19 December 2010 mass riot criminal case.