The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2012

21.03.2012 Freedom Day rallies banned in Baranavichy and Hrodna

On 20 March Baranavichy civil activist Ryhor Hryk received an official reply from the city executive committee imposing a ban on staging a picket commemorating the 94th anniversary of the proclamation of the independence of the Belarusian People’s Republic (Freedom Day) on 25 March.

21.03.2012 International civil society gorups release statement on execution of Uladzislau Kavalyou and Dzmitry Kanavalau

It was learned on 17 March 2012 that Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavalyou, the two men sentenced to death in connection with the Minsk subway explosion in April 2011, had been executed.

21.03.2012 Valiantsin Stefanovich banned from leaving Belarus for “draft evasion”

Valiantsin Stefanovich, deputy chair of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, was put on the notorious black list of foreign travel restrictions for alleged draft evasion, says a representative of a department on migration and citizenship in Minsk.

21.03.2012 Salihorsk activist appeals groundless replies by authorities

Three months have passed since Salihorsk civil activist Uladzimir Shyla started fighting for his right to expression and freedom of peaceful assembly, after his numerous applications for holding pickets were banned by the town’s executive authorities.

21.03.2012 Valery Ukhnalyou banned from leaving Belarus

Valery Ukhnalyou, the deputy head of the Belarusian Left Party “Fair World”, was not allowed to cross the state border this morning.

21.03.2012 Andrei Bandarenka sues Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Defence

On March 20, Andrei Bandarenka received an official reply from the military enlistment office of the town of Kirau. The reply reads he is not subject to the draft.

21.03.2012 KGB trying to deprive UCP Babruisk leader of custody of his parents

Viktar Buzinayeu, chair of the United Civil Party’s Babruisk office, may be deprived of right to custody of his disabled parents, say local social service officials.

20.03.2012 Orsha authorities ban another picket

Orsha town executive authorities have banned another picket applied for by local activists of the United Leftist Party “Fair World”.

20.03.2012 Hrodna activist harassed ahead of Freedom Day

The Hrodna organizers of a meeting on Freedom Day (25 March) have not yet received an official reply from local executive officials.

20.03.2012 Vitsebsk resident fined for picketing in support of Siarhei Kavalenka

Judge Alena Tsyhankova of Vitsebsk Chyhunachny District Court has fined Alena Semenchukova BYR 175,000 for staging a picket of support to the imprisoned opposition activist Siarhei Kavalenka in the city center on 20 March, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

20.03.2012 Slonim residents appeal Freedom Day meeting ban

Slonim residents Mikalai Radkevich and Ivan Sheha have lodged a complaint with Slonim District Prosecutor’s Office and Hrodna Regional Executive Committee, appealing a ban imposed on holding a meeting on Freedom Day.

20.03.2012 UN Accuses Belarus of Violating International Obligations

The United Nations Human Rights Committee voiced its grave concern over the execution of Dmitri Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalev. The latter filed a complaint to the committee, claiming fraudulent trial of his case and the pressure exerted upon him.

20.03.2012 Russia Calls on Minsk to Join Moratorium on Death Penalty

Russia wants all European countries including Belarus to join the moratorium on the death penalty, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in his interview with radio station Kommersant FM.

20.03.2012 Belarus must release bodies of convicts executed over Minsk metro bombing

The execution of two men convicted of carrying out a deadly metro bombing last year in Minsk has been condemned by Amnesty International as it called on the Belarus authorities to release the bodies to their families for burial.

19.03.2012 In Wake Of Belarus Executions, Doubts About Judicial Process

VITSEBSK, Belarus -- Candles and flowers litter the stairwell outside the apartment of Lyubou Kavalyova, the mother of one of the two men executed for the April 2011 subway bombing in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.