The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for December 2011

15.12.2011 Brest: detention of Zmitser Shurkhai and Aliaksei Charkashyn

The activists of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Zmitser Shurkhai and Aliaksei Charkashyn were detained by road police at the entrance to Brest.

15.12.2011 Baranavichy: Ryhor Hryk appeals against procuracy's warning

Baranavichy-based civil activist Ryhor Hryk applied to the Brest Region Procuracy with an appeal against the warning, issued to him by the Baranavichy prosecutor A.Bildzeuka in connection with “participation in an unauthorized mass event” (the People's Assembly which was held on 8 October).

15.12.2011 Vitsebsk authorities ban another 19 December action

Activist of the “European Belarus” Uladzislau Varanetski applied to the Chyhunachny District Executive Committee of Minsk for authorization of the picket which he intended to hold in the Culture and Recreation Park of Railway Workers on 19 December. By this action he wanted to draw public attention to the problem of political prisoners, including the situation of Andrei Sannikau, who is serving his prison term in “Vitsba-3” colony and who is denied meetings with his counsel.

15.12.2011 Vilnius major denied Belarusian visa

Arturas Zuokas has been denied a Belarusian visa after his meeting with the Belarusian opposition members.

15.12.2011 Authorities fill budget at oppositionists' expense

Tatsiana Seviarynets, a coordinator of the organizing committee to create the Belarisian Christian Democracy party, appealed against the verdict of the court for holding the People’s Assembly in Vitsebsk.

15.12.2011 Mahiliou: correspondence with authorities instead of People's Assembly

The organizing committee to hold the People’s Assembly in Mahiliou sent a letter to the chairman of the Mahilou District Executive Committee. The organizing committee demanded the official to account for “gross mistakes and blunders in social and economic development of the country”.

15.12.2011 Astravets district: pressurization of Mikalai Ulasevich increases

Some leaflets with libelous information concerning the activist of the civil initiative “Construction of Astravets Nuclear Power Plant is a crime!” Mikalai Ulasevich have been distributed in Ashmiany and Astravets. The leaflets are printed on behalf of the civil initiative “Nash Dom” and addressed to ordinary citizens. Mr. Ulasevich is declared a member of “Nash Dom” and accused of stealing some money, swindling. His honest civil activism is described as “chicanery and an opportunity to get good profits”.

14.12.2011 Vitsebsk: trial of Siarhei Kavalenka postponed again

Siarhei Kavalenka, member of the Conservative-Christian Party from Vitsebsk, is tried by Ina Hrabouskaya, Judge of the Kastrychnitski District Court of Vitsebsk, on the basis of video and photo materials from Internet, at which a man who resembles Siarhei Kavalenka hangs out a white-red-white flag on the roof of the shop “5th Element” on 27 November.

14.12.2011 Finnish League for Human Rights applies to embassies to support Ales Bialiatski

Finnish League for Human Rights (FLHR) visited the embassy of the Rebublic of Lithuania in Helsinki today to present a written appeal on behalf of Ales Bialiatski's case and situation in Belarus. FLHR requested a meeting also with the embassy of the Russian Federation in Helsinki, but received no reply.

14.12.2011 Ukrainian activists support Bialiatski and other prisoners of conscience

One of the seats was left empty to symbolize the virtual presence of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski at the presentation of the annual report of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Kyiv, Ukraine, on 8 December. That’s how the All-Ukrainian Association of Civil Human Rights Actions expressed support to Bialiatski.

14.12.2011 Astravets district: worker traumatized at NPP construction site

According to information of civil activist Ivan Kruk, a fieldworker lost three fingers at the construction site of the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant, located near the town of Varniany.

14.12.2011 Interrogations on criminal case of BPF members go on

The investigation continues interrogating possible witnesses of the assault on a guard of an office building, which was allegedly committed by the members of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Maksim Hubarevich, Ales Kalita and Siarzhuk Semianiuk on 13 August 2011.

14.12.2011 19 December actions banned in Vitsebsk

Vitsebsk-based civil activists intended to hold a rally near the so-called “blue house” on Lenin Street and proceed towards Svaboda Square.

14.12.2011 Attention! Urgent press-conference

On 15 December representatives of Belarusian human rights organizations and civil movements will voice an urgent address to the public concerning the criminal case of the head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” and vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights Ales Bialiatski.

14.12.2011 Ivan Shyla holds action of support to Bialiatski at European Human Rights Congress (photos)

Ivan Shyla, "Young Front" activist from Salihorsk, held an action in support of Ales Bialiatski at the Human Rights Congress held in the Polish town of Katowicy on 8 December. The Congress was dedicated the the human rights situation on the post-Soviet space and was held at the juridical faculty of the Silezian University where Ivan studies.