The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for December 2011

09.12.2011 Salihorsk: you need an official permission to be a Santa!

Some Salihorskers wanted to hold a festive New Year action for low-income families, whose members cannot afford to call Santa Claus for their children. They phoned to the education department in order to get the addresses of such families. They said that they have the appropriate costumes and gifts and wanted to hold a charitable action for Salihorsk children.

09.12.2011 Baranavichy: 14 pickets banned in turn

The Baranavichy City Executive Committee denied civil activist Ryhor Makarevich in holding a picket in the old city park on 17 December. By means of this action Makarevich wanted to morally support the people who were in a hard economic situation due to the crisis.

09.12.2011 Biaroza: police are free to beat pensioners

Hanna Kavalevich, a pensioner from Biaroza, received a answer from the head of the Brest Region Police Department, in which she asked to give a legal assessment to actions of the officer of an officer of the Biaroza District Police Department Yakau Samasiuk and the convoy of the paddy wagon who worked at 7 p.m. on 13 July (during the dispersal of a silent protest action) in Biaroza, and tell how the direct participants of her beating were punishment.

09.12.2011 Mahiliou: Iryna Tryhubava to be tried for leaflet

Iryna Tryhubava, an activist of the Free Trade Union of Steelworkers, was detained about three weeks ago near the porch of a house in the Yubileiny syburb.

09.12.2011 Tatsiana Hatsura gets fined on her birthday

Civil activist and a mother of many children Tatsiana Hatsuara (pregnant at the time) turns 31 today.

09.12.2011 Brest: picket in support of political prisoners banned too

Human rights activist Uladzimir Vialichkin applied for holding a one-hour picket to the Brest City Executive Committee.

09.12.2011 Babruisk: UCP activist Zmitser Toustsik put on wanted list

His wife Alena received this information from police. She says a criminal case was opened against her husband.

09.12.2011 Orsha: investigation into BPF members' case expands its geography

On 8 December in Orsha a member of the Sojm of the Belarusian Popular Front Party A. Shutau was visited by a representative of the inquiries department of the Orsha City Police Department.

09.12.2011 Sannikau's counsel banned from meeting his client again

The lawyer planned to visit the presidential candidate on 8 December.

08.12.2011 Why are letters to Statkevich destroyed in penal colony in Shklou?

Leanid Haravy, an activist of the human rights and educational movement “For Freedom!” is looking of an answer to this question. As it follows from the official answer of the head of Shklou penal colony #17, his letter to former presidential candidate, political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich, was destroyed. However, the colony administration didn’t offer any explanations for this action.

08.12.2011 Barysau: verdict to signature collector to be announced on 12 December

On 7 December the second hearing on the case of Mikalai Iliiushonak took place at the Barysau City Court. Illiushonak had been detained on 21 September, while collecting signatures for holding a People’s Assembly in Barysau. He was kept at the police station for three hours and his car and apartment were inspected.

08.12.2011 Trial of national-Bolshevik Kontush postponed

On 8 December Yury Harbatouski, Judge of the Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk, continued the consideration of the administrative case against Yauhen Kontush, who is charged with “disorderly conduct” for alleged spilling a bucket of noodles and scattering leaflets at the entrance of the Belarusian TV and Radio Company on 3 December.

08.12.2011 Belarusian believers against execution of Kanavalau and Kavaliou

About twenty believers, who hold daily prayers near St. Symon and Alena Church in the center of Minsk, addressed Aliaksandr Lukashenka in connection with the issue of the death verdict to Kanavalau and Kavaliou and the related hunger-strike of Sviatlana Chornaya.

08.12.2011 Polish human rights defenders ask Lukashenka to pardon Kanavalau and Kavaliou

The Polish Helsinki Human Rights Foundation and the initiative “Horizon – against the death penalty” addressed Aliaksandr Lukashenka with an appropriate appeal.

08.12.2011 Human rights pickets banned in Homel and Vitsebsk

The Homel City Executive Committee banned human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka from holding a picket on 10 December, Human Rights Day, at one of the central squares of the city.