The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for December 2011

20.12.2011 Homel resident facing travel restrictions nine months after acquittal

On 20 December, Homel resident Yauhen Dzedushkin was not allowed to cross the Belarusian border as he was going to Vilnius.

20.12.2011 Ales Bialiatski’s chair left vacant at 2011 Report on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders presentation in Yerevan

On the 14th of December the Chairman of the Board of “Civil Society Institute” NGO and FIDH Secretary General Artak Kirakosyan together with CSI NGO president Arman Danielyan presented the 2011 Report on the Protection of the Human Rights Defenders around the world. In Armenia, as in other countries, during the presentation of the report the seat of the speaker Ales Bialiatski was left vacant as a call for setting him free.

20.12.2011 Baranavichy activist loses job over opposition activities

On 20 December, the administration of Baranavichy-based Transfer Lines Plant has refused to extend the employment contract of local leader of the “Fair World” Leftist Party Viktar Tsiapin, despite of acute shortage of engineers at the factory.

20.12.2011 Ales Bialiatski’s meeting with dying father possible on paper only

The wife of imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski has received another reply from Chair of Minsk Pershamaiski District Court Mrs. Tamara Vysotskaya on the possibility of Bialiatski’s meeting with his father who is said to be on his death-bed.

20.12.2011 KGB puts pressure on LGBT group

On 7 December, officers of the KGB Hrodna office interrogated an 18-year-old activist of the GayBelarus LGBT human rights project, offering him cooperation. On 19 December, he was summoned for a “conversation” again. However, the activist declined the invitation.

20.12.2011 Some fifty persons detained in yesterday’s Minsk protest

Some fifty protesters were detained during a rally marking the anniversary of the 19 December 2010 post-election protest staged in central Minsk last evening.

19.12.2011 19 December again: Chronicle of events (updated)

Belarusian law enforcement agencies have taken several measures to prevent opposition activists from joining the anniversary rallies of 19 December 2010 post-election protest expected this evening across the country.

19.12.2011 Ales Bialiatski may be late to part with father due to procedural flaws

The imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski may not have enough time to part with his father, 82, who is said to be on his death-bed, due to bureaucratic acrimony of the current Belarusian judicial and penal systems.

19.12.2011 One Year After, the Crackdown Continues in Belarus. Statement by Norwegian Helsinki Committee

On 19 December last year we witnessed thousands of peaceful citizens gathering in central Minsk, protesting the oppression and the stolen presidential elections. That night all hope of progress was shattered as we saw police forces batter the protesters and arresting them by the hundreds. Presidential candidates, opposition leaders, civil society leaders and unorganized citizens were all herded into vans and brought to prison. Thousands fled, running away from soldiers and police beating indiscriminately. Belarusian citizens keep running still a year later.

19.12.2011 National Human Rights Award 2011

The organizing committee of Charter’97 has announced laureates of the National Award in the field of human rights protection for 2011.

19.12.2011 USA and EU call on Belarus to release political prisoners

It is said in the joint statement of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and European Union's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.

19.12.2011 Siarhei Kavalenka detained in Vitsebsk

Vitsebsk opposition activist Siarhei Kavalenka has been detained by local police ahead of today’s rally marking the anniversary of the 19 December 2010 post-election protest.

19.12.2011 Vitsebsk activists detained

Vitsebsk activist of the For Freedom movement Khrystafor Zhaliapau has been detained by road police on his way to a penal colony in Shklou where former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich is currently serving his term.

19.12.2011 Convicts in 19 December 2010 mass riots trial summoned to police ahead of protest’s anniversary

Several persons convicted for involvement in the 19 December 2010 post-election protest, including former presidential candidate Uladzimir Niakliayeu and Andrei Sannikau’s wife Iryna Khalip, have been summoned to local police departments in the evening of 19 December, the Nasha Niva newspaper reports.

19.12.2011 Ukrainian human rights defender not allowed to enter Belarus

Ukrainian human rights defender Konstyantyn Rautskyi, member of the Luhansk-based “Postup” human rights center, has not been allowed to enter Belarus, the Nasha Niva newspaper reports, quoting Mr. Rautskyi’s Facebook account.