The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for July 2011

22.07.2011 6 more political prisoners lose appeals in Minsk City Court

Minsk City Court panel of judges headed by Uladzimir Stsyapurka has taken the decision today, on July 22.

22.07.2011 Nyaklyayeu and Dzmitryyeu’s sentences not changed

Minsk City Court has not satisfied their appeals.

22.07.2011 HR defender Paplauny: “The judge that tried me has no right to administer justice in future”

Homel human rights defender Anatol Paplauny has addressed Justice Minister Viktar Halavanau with an appeal, demanding to provide legal assessment to the actions by a judge of Homel Tsentralny District Court, who reportedly pronounced an illegal sentence to the activist.

22.07.2011 Bruzhi protesters’ trial to continue on August 1

Hrodna regional custom house and the local police would like to fine them for 10 million roubles.

22.07.2011 Silent protester’s appeal satisfied by Brest Province Court

Dzmitry Shurhai was sentenced to 7 days of arrest.

22.07.2011 Dead or alive? (updated)

Have the death sentences to Aleh Hryshkautsou and Andrei Burdyka been executed or not? This is the question incited by numerous reports quoting a publication in the state-owned “Vecherniy Grodno” newspaper of 20 July.

22.07.2011 At least 4 persons detained in auto protest against fuel prices rise

At least 4 car-owners were detained during an auto protest against another fuel prices rise staged in downtown Minsk yesterday. They were taken to the nearest police department and charged with parking violation.

22.07.2011 Barysau: 5-day arrests

On 21 July, Barysau court considered the administrative cases of United Civil Party activist Mikalai Vitorski and press photographer of the www.ex-press.by web-site Aliaksandr Ziankou, charged with alleged participation in an unauthorized “silent protest” on 20 July.

21.07.2011 Alleged protester loses job

Employee of Minsk Automobile Plant Anatol Sytsko, sentenced to 8 days of arrest for alleged participation in a “silent protest” on 6 July, has been forced to quit his job, “Nasha Niva” newspaper reports.

21.07.2011 Mahiliou court turns down complaints by “silent protesters”

On 21 July, Mahiliou regional court dismissed the complaints lodged by human rights defender Barys Bukhel, journalists Ales Asiptsou, Alina Skrybunova, Hanna Ilyina and civil activist Valiantsin Labachou, European Radio for Belarus reports.

21.07.2011 Protesters stand trials in Minsk

The persons detained during yesterday’s “silent protest” in Minsk have stood trials in the city’s courts this afternoon. All of them face charges for disorderly conduct.

21.07.2011 Rechytsa activist receives political asylum in Poland

Rechytsa civil activist Viktar Kantsavenka, known as former campaign chief of presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich, has received political asylum in Poland, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

21.07.2011 Yauhen Vaskovich in disciplinary cell for refusal to hand in his Bible

Babruisk journalist, convicted for an attempt to set KGB building on fire,has been punished for "breaking internal regime" once again.

21.07.2011 Former local council candidate submits complaint to UN HR Committee

Homel activist Marya Bahdanovich, who was running for the local council in 2010, has submitted a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee, arguing that chair of the city’s election commission Mr. Paroshyn was involved in election violations.

21.07.2011 Detainee beaten and intimidated by unknown person

According to Anton Ruliou, detained on 6 July in Minsk and sentenced to 10 days of arrest, he was beaten and threatened with drug-related prosecution by an unknown person after he was taken to Minsk Savetski District Police Department.