The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for February 2012

29.02.2012 Health of Zmitser Bandarenka deteriorated

The wife of Zmitser Bandarenka, the coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign, received a letter from her husband saying his diseases aggravated.

29.02.2012 Police drop battery charges against BPF members

The criminal prosecution against three Belarusian Popular Front members has been terminated, European Radio for Belarus reports, quoting one of the activists Maksim Hubarevich.

29.02.2012 Valiantsin Stefanovich ordered to pay 57 mln. within seven days

Valiantsin Stefanovich, deputy chair of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” has received copies of court rulings ordering to execute the decision by Minsk Partyzanski District Court of 16 December 2011.

29.02.2012 Barysau prosecutor’s office re-opens flag abuse case

Barysau district prosecutor’s office has ordered to re-open a criminal investigation against Aliaksandr Malchanau and Andrei Mikalayeuski under Article 370 of the Criminal Code (“desecration of national symbols”).

29.02.2012 Syarhei Kavalenka transferred to Minsk colony hospital

The reason for his transfer from Vitsebsk to Minsk in unknown.

28.02.2012 KGB persecutes family of political refugee from Salihorsk

Vasily Lahnou, the father of political refugee Alyaksei Prykhodzka from Salihorsk, complains to local human rights activists he is being pressed by the KGB.

28.02.2012 EU blacklists 21 more Belarusians

The Council of the European Union on February 27 added 21 new names to the EU’s list of Belarusians subject to restrictive measures in connection with the ongoing crackdown on government opponents, BelaPAN said.

28.02.2012 Homel activist reiterates demand to review appeal

Homel resident Ihar Sluchak has lodged another complaint with the Supreme Court Chairman Valiantsin Sukala, urging him to review the administrative arrest for alleged disorderly conduct in late August 2011.

28.02.2012 Hrodna authorities ban picket in support of political prisoners

Hrodna human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau and Raman Yurhel will not be able to hold a picket of solidarity with Belarusian prisoners of conscience, after their application was dismissed by local executive authorities.

28.02.2012 Belarusian Helsinki Committee demands to inspect torture report by Valadarski detention center prisoner

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee has lodged an appeal with the Prosecutor General’s Office demanding to investigate torture allegations reported by Mr. Siarhei Hafarau, inmate of Minsk detention center in Valadarski Street, Radio Racyja reports.

28.02.2012 Ales Bialiatski is in Babruisk penal colony

Ales Bialiatski has finally been convoyed to Babruisk penal colony No. 2, after he left Zhodzina prison to spend eleven days in a detention center in Minsk, says the human rights defender's wife, quoting the penal facility's administration.

28.02.2012 Bundestag member supports Syarhei Kavalenka

Marieluise Beck condemned the sentence against the Vitsebsk political prisoner.

27.02.2012 Ales Byalyatski still in transit to prison in Babruysk

Convicted human rights defender Ales Byalyatski has not yet been placed in Correctional Institution No. 2 in Babruysk, Mahilyow region, to serve his prison sentence.

27.02.2012 Homel human rights defenders appeal freedom of assembly abuse at UN Human Rights Committee

On 27 February, Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka submitted a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee, arguing that their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly were violated by Belarus.

27.02.2012 Toy protest in Vilnius

On February 28, from 12 a.m. till 1 p.m., at Vilnius Vinco Kudirkos Square, an “unauthorized” action “TOYS PROTEST” will take place. Over 10 toys will participate in the protest.