The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for September 2011

19.09.2011 Homel activists to stand trial for "silent action" leaflets

Zmitser Shauchenka and Dzmitry Karashkou were detained on Saturday and delivered to the pre-trial detention center.

16.09.2011 Homel human rights defenders launch campaign “Happy Birthday, Ales Bialiatski!”

On 16 September, Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka launched a regional campaign in support to the imprisoned leader of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski marking his birthday due on 25 September.

16.09.2011 Homel court turns down appeal by social network user

On 16 September, Homel Regional Court dismissed an appeal lodged by Mazyr driver Mikhas Karatkevich against a fine of BYR 105,000 he was sentenced to for alleged posting appeals for participating in a “silent protest” on his page at Vkontakte social network service, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

16.09.2011 September 16 - anniversary of disappearance of Krasouski and Hanchar

Opposition politician Victar Hanchar and businessman Anatol Krasouski disappeared with no traces on this very day in 1999 in Minsk.

16.09.2011 Health of Zmitser Bandarenka deteriorated

The wife of the political prisoner, Volha Bandarenka, has seen her husband in the penal colony.

16.09.2011 European Parliament resolution of 15 September 2011 on Belarus: the arrest of human rights defender Ales Bialatski

Belarus: arrest of Ales Bialatski, human rights defender

15.09.2011 Terrorism case: unprecedented security measures and pressurization of journalists

On 15 September there started the trial of Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou, charged of exploding a bomb on the Kastrychnitskaya metro station on 11 April 2011. They are also suspected in explosions in Vitsebsk and Minsk in 2005 and 2008 and 30 more criminal episodes.

15.09.2011 European Parliament calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Belorussian human rights defender Ales Bialatski

On 15 September members of the European Parliament adopted a resolution in which they express deep concern at the deteriorating situation of human rights defenders in Belarus. They strongly condemn the recent arrest of and allegations against Ales Bialiatski, Chair of the Human Rights Cenetr Viasna, and the Belarusian authorities’ failure to respect the fundamental rights of freedom of assembly and expression.

15.09.2011 Homel: police officers brought to disciplinary responsibility on Anatol Paplauny’s appeal

It is stated by colonel Valery Liavonau, Deputy Chair of the Police Bureau of the Homel Region Executive Committee, in his answer to the appeal of human rights defender Anatol Paplauny concerning the false testimony that had been given by the police officers at a trial over him.

15.09.2011 Sudden change of investigator in criminal case against BPF activsits

The activists of the Belarusian Popular Front Maksim Hubarevich, Ales Kalita and Siarzhuk Semianiuk who are suspected within the framework of a criminal case concerning “hooliganism, committed by a group of persons”, found about it after receiving a telephone call from investigator Patapava, who wanted to inform them about the upcoming confrontation with a witness. According to the law, the youngsters were to have been acquainted with the ruling about the appointment of a new investigator.

15.09.2011 Political prisoners are threatened with rape

Political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich his daughter on 14 September. The daughter of imprisoned presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich says that it was the first time when her father could talk to her since his arrest on 19 December 2010.

Human Rights Center <em>Viasna</em>: 15 years of persecution

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.

15.09.2011 BPF Party is evicted again

The owner of the premises has asked the BPF party to vacate its office by 1 October.

15.09.2011 KGB: another recruitment failure

The activist of the youth democratic movement in Homel, Ksenia Yaraslautsava, says a KGB officer tried to recruit her.

14.09.2011 Third wave of pardoned figurants of 19 December events

Human rights defenders are trying to find the surnames of the 11 political prisoners who have been pardoned by Lukashenka’s order today: Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, Dzmitry Bulanau, Aleh Fedarkevich, Aliaksandr Klaskouski, Mikita Likhavid, Uladzimir Loban, Aliaksandr Malchanau, Fiodar Mirzayanau, Dzmitry Novik, Illia Vasilevich and Pavel Vinahradau.