The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for October 2011

Open Joint letter regarding the new legislative amendments limiting freedom of assembly and association and imposing new restrictions on civil society groups in Belarus

21.10.2011 Open Joint letter regarding the new legislative amendments limiting freedom of assembly and association and imposing new restrictions on civil society groups in Belarus

A number of international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19, Civil Rights Defenders, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Watch, the Human Rights House Foundation, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, have addressed the Council of the Republic, the upper chamber of the Belarusian Parliament, urging the Parliament members to quash recent legislative amendments that impose limitations on freedom of assembly and association and severely restrict the work of Belarusian civil society groups, especially those working on human rights or related issues.

21.10.2011 Detentions in Minsk solidarity rally

A number of opposition activists were detained in a rally of solidarity with prisoners of conscience staged by the European Belarus civil campaign in Minsk central Kastrychnitskaya Square this morning.

21.10.2011 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders: Urgent appeal on Valiantsin Stefanovich's case

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Belarus. The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the sentencing of Mr. Valiantsin Stefanovich, Vice-Chairman of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna”.

21.10.2011 Homel court refuses to consider complaint by Young Front activist

On 21 October, Judge Dzmitry Uloha of Homel Regional Court refused to consider a complaint by Young Front activist Andrei Tsianiuta against an unlawful arrest verdict for alleged illegal distribution of People’s Assembly leaflets on 20 September.

20.10.2011 Gay activist sacked

Aliaksandr Paluian, editor-in-chief of the Belarusian LGBT web-site www.gayby.net, has been dismissed by the management of the Minsk office of an international company, European Radio for Belarus reports.

20.10.2011 Security services keep harassing journalist Karpenka

Lida independent journalist Siarhei Karpenka is likely to be charged with abusing policemen. This is another episode in a series of facts of harassment used by the law enforcement agencies against the BelSat TV Channel reporter.

20.10.2011 Viasna awarded Danish Freedom Prize

The Human Rights Center “Viasna” has been awarded the 2011 Politiken Freedom Prize, an international human rights award sponsored by the Denmark-based Politiken radical-social, liberal newspaper.

20.10.2011 Minsk Regional Court dismisses appeal by independent trade union leader

Minsk Regional Court has dismissed a cassational appeal by Henadz Fiadynich, chair of the Radio Electronic Industry Trade Union, who was fined BYR 700,000 for alleged involvement in organizing an unauthorized mass rally back in September.

20.10.2011 Homel court turns down complaint by Kastus Zhukouski

Judge Tatsiana Adrybets of Homel Chyhunachny District Court has dismissed a complaint by local opposition activist Kastus Zhukouski against illegal actions by the policemen on 11 October.

20.10.2011 Brest HR defender vs. forced fingerprinting

Brest Leninski District Court has dismissed a complaint by local human rights lawyer Raman Kisliak against illegal actions by the Interior Ministry and Brest Leninski District Department of Internal Affairs, as well as a police inspector who reportedly coerced the activist to fingerprinting, Radio Racyja reports.

20.10.2011 Bialiatski trial to open 2 November

The trial of Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski is due to start at 10 a.m. 2 November at Minsk Maskouski District Court.

19.10.2011 Purges among lawyers go on

The Ministry of Justice is trying to replace the head of the Minsk City Bar.

19.10.2011 Belarusian NGOs address Parliament on controversial draft laws

On 19 October, an appeal signed by representatives of 25 NGOs and other non-profit organizations was passed to the Council of the Republic, the Upper Chamber of the Belarusian Parliament.

19.10.2011 Babruisk police charge ill UCP activist

Halina Smirnova, activist of the United Civil Party’s Babruisk office, has been visited by a policeman, who, despite her illness, officially charged her with involvement in an unauthorized mass event.

19.10.2011 EU delegation urges Belarus not to pass “some repressive draft laws”

The European Union Delegation to Belarus has issued a statement urging the Belarusian authorities not to pass “some repressive draft laws” that “would severely limit the freedoms and rights of Belarusian citizens and represent a step backwards as regards Belarus’ respect for human rights and the rule of law”, the BelaPAN news agency reports.