The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for October 2011

17.10.2011 Journalist Shytal fined BYR 105,000

Independent journalist Kastus Shytal has been found guilty of “disorderly conduct” on 7 October.

17.10.2011 Baranavichy authorities ban one more picket

Baranavichy civil activist Ryhor Hryk has not been allowed to stage a picket “For a Life without Lies”, despite his compliance with every formality while submitting the application.

17.10.2011 HR defender detained for action of solidarity with Bialiatski in Brest

Raman Kisliak told the city dwellers about the arrest of the head of the human rights center "Viasna" through a megaphone.

14.10.2011 Brest ecologists are worried

The construction of dwelling houses and a shopping and leisure center is carried out actively in Brest, on the territory which was used for unloading and interim storing of the uranic ore waste, brought from the German Democratic Republic during the Soviet times.

14.10.2011 Appeal of Vitsebsk activists turned down

On 14 October Alena Hrabianchuk, Judge of the Chyhunachny District Court of Vitsebsk, turned down the appeal of Aliaksei Haurutsikau, chairman of the electoral headquarters of Mikalai Statkevich during the presidential election in 2010, Khrystafor Zhaliapau, head of the Vitsebsk region organization of the Movement “For Freedom!”, and a member of the Conservative-Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front”, Yan Dziarzhautsau.

14.10.2011 Homel: Kastus Zhukouski taken for interrogation together with ill daughter

On 14 October the Homel oppositionist Kanstantsin Zhukouski hardly managed to leave his home when he was met by officers of the Guard department with rifles. They stated that it was necessary for him to go with them to the Tsentralny District Police Department of Homel and they would “insist” on his coming there if he refused.

14.10.2011 Brest: cassation appeal of beaten pensioner turned down

Andrei Leshchanka, Judge of the Brest Region Court, turned down the cassation appeal against the verdict of the Biaroza District Court on case of Halina Kavalevich.

14.10.2011 Analytical review of the court proceedings on the criminal case of Sviataslau Baranovich

The hearings on the criminal case were held at the Maskouski District Court of Minsk since 28 September till 12 October. The trial was led by Judge Alena Rudnitskaya with the participation of prosecutor of the Maskouski District Procuracy of Minsk Siarkou as the state accuser.

14.10.2011 Criminal case instigated against Lyapis Trubetskoy frontman?

Musician Siarhei Mikhalok can be punished for his audacious remarks criticizing the authorities.

14.10.2011 Details of new law “On State Security Bodies”

Any protests are banned, foreign financing of organisations becomes a criminally punishable act, and the KGB would be able to burst into our homes and offices any time.

14.10.2011 Fine to Viktar Ivashkevich

The co-chairman of the organizing committee to hold the People’s Assembly has been fined 1.4 million rubles). The administrative case against the politician was heard in the Savetski district court of Minsk on 13 October.

14.10.2011 On the Threat of Significant Limitations on Human Rights in Legislation

Statement by the leaders of civil society organizations in Belarus

13.10.2011 Ales Bialiatski: “The time threw us a challenge. We accepted it"

This is an interview with Aliaksandr Bialiatski prepared for publication for the 15th anniversary of Human Rights Center "Viasna", which is celebrated this year. In this interview, Bialiatski tells not only about the history of the organization, the purpose of its work and his colleagues, but also about his vision of human rights protection in democratic reforms, which will doubtlessly take place in Belarus in the near future.

13.10.2011 Hrodna: activist of “Tell The Truth!” Tatsiana Kasataya is expelled from post-graduate course

The ideological pressurization is still growing in the Hrodna State University named after Yanka Kupala. Last week, on 8 October, the deans ordered lecturers to keep students in class rooms during the People's Assembly. In the beginning of this week it also became known about the expulsion of Tatsiana Kasataya, an activist of the civil movement “Tell The Truth!” from the post-graduate course.

13.10.2011 Babruisk: Viktar Buzinayeu is summonsed to police

Viktar Buzinayeu, a member of the organizing committee of the People's Assembly in Babruisk, was detained by the police on 8 October, but released without any charges.