The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 30 Jan 2012

30.01.2012 Vitsebsk resident Pyotr Ivanov: detained for leaflets, fined for “dirty swearing”

Vitebsk resident Pyotr Ivanov, a citizen of the Russian Federation, representative of the party "United Russia" and the activist of the civil campaign "Speak Truth," was fined 140,000 rubles for allegedly using foul language. He had been detained for handing out leaflets calling for solidarity with Siarhei Kavalenka.

30.01.2012 Aleh Volchak sentenced to 4 days of arrest

Human rights activist Aleh Volchak was detained outdoors on 27 January in Minsk and guarded to the Maskouski District Police Department of Minsk.

30.01.2012 Communication concerning torture of Andrei Sannikau filed with UN Special Rapporteur on Torture

A complaint about torture of Belarusian presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau has been submitted to the UN special rapporteur on torture.

30.01.2012 Belarusian Helsinki Committee asks General Procuracy to check information about torture of Andrei Sannikau

The reason for the appeal of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee to the General Procuracy is information which was filed by the wife of former presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau, Iryna Khalip at a press conference in Minsk on 25 January.

30.01.2012 Hrodna journalist summonsed to KGB

The Hrodna journalist Hrazhyna Shalkevich was summonsed to the Hrodna regional KGB department. They wanted to pass her an official summons on Saturday evening, but she was absent from home. At about 2 p.m. on Sunday she was visited by a police officer, who issued her with a summons for 6 p.m. of that day. The journalist wasn’t told why she was to come to the KGB department on a day-off, Sunday.

30.01.2012 MIA finds nothing wrong with refusal of Orsha police to conclude service agreement

The Orsha human rights defenders Vasil Berasneu and Vasil Leuchankau received an answer from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to their complaint concerning the refusal of the Orsha City Police Department to conclude an agreement for serving their picket.

30.01.2012 Two European MPs demand abolishment of death sentence to Kanavalau and Kavaliou

MEPs Laima Andrikiene and Eduard Kukan in their joint statement have deplored the unfair trial of both Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou and urgently called on President Lukashenka to establish an immediate moratorium of their death penalty. They have stressed the growing urgency for this, as both condemned can be executed now at any moment without warning, after their appeal for clemency had been rejected.

30.01.2012 Minsk dweller goes on hunger-strike of protest against torture of Andrei Sannikau

That’s how Andrei Nikalayeu wants to show support to his candidate.

30.01.2012 Tougher conditions created for political prisoner Zmitser Bandarenka

On Monday new terms of confinement for Zmitser Bandarenka are introduced in the Mahiliou colony, as the coordinator of the civic campaign European Belarus told his wife on 29 January in a telephone conversation.