The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2012

10.04.2012 Preventive supervision established over ex-political prisoner Pavel Vinahradau

On 10 April Tatsiana Motyl, Judge of the Maskouski District Court of Minsk, ruled that a preventive supervision was to be established over the former political prisoner Pavel Vinahradau. Thus, Mr. Vinahradau is prohibited to leave Minsk. He needs to stay at home at 8 p.m.- 8 a.m. everyday and check at the criminal-executive inspection at the place of residence 4 times a month.

10.04.2012 Trade-union activist dismissed for giving an interview

The Capital Construction Board of the Mahiliou City Executive Committee decided not to extend the labor contract to a member of the Free Trade Union of Belarus Mikalai Rasiuk.

10.04.2012 Ivan Kruk Addresses High Commissioner for Human Rights

Ivan Kruk, a civil activist from Astravets, filed an individual communication with the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the UN. A copy of the communication was also sent to the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Belarus.

10.04.2012 Baranavichy: fifth picket ban this year

On 9 April civil activist Ryhor Hryk received a letter signed by the Deputy Head of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee Dz. Kastsiukevich. There it is stated, that Baranavichy CEC, being guided by the Law of the Republic of Belarus of 12 December 1997 No. 114-3 "About Mass Events" (in the edition No. 308-3 of 11 August 2011) prohibited the activist to hold a picket in the old city park on 15 April.

10.04.2012 Mikalai Ulasevich detained on the border

Astravets-based activist of the anti-nuclear company Mikalai Ulasevich was stopped on the border as he was crossing the border on his car for the second time during one week, whereas the law allows crossing the border on one's car only once a week. As a rule, those who violate this requirement are just sent back.

10.04.2012 Political prisoner Dziadok transferred to Shklou colony

Mikalai Dziadoks' mother phoned to Mahiliou penal colony #15 to ask about the date of the short-term meeting with him and was told that he had been transferred to Shklou colony #17. The duty officer received to give any explanations. He just said that the relatives would receive an official paper.

10.04.2012 Court orders psychiatric examination of Kavalenka

The regional court was to hear the appeal against the decision of the Pershamaiski district court of Vitebsk today.

10.04.2012 Tax inspection demands taxes from $10,000 confiscated from Liabedzka's apartment

About $10,000 seized from Anatol Liabedzka during the search in December 2010, have not been returned to the owner so far.

10.04.2012 Political prisoner Bandarenka had leg surgery

Political prisoner Zmitser Bandarenka has had his second surgery since the beginning of his prison term.

09.04.2012 Forensic expertise confirms beating of Siarhei Kavalenka

According to doctor of the psychiatric department of "Vitsba-3" penal colony, the state of Kavalenka's health remains unchanged.

09.04.2012 Minsk resident fined for refusal to pass dactylography

On 6 April the Kastrychnitski District Court of Minsk levied Minsk resident Ruslan Nevar with a fine of 4 million rubles for "insubordination to a lawful demand of a public agent" (Article 23.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).

09.04.2012 Brest Regional Economic Court refuses to consider entrepreneur's appeal

On 6 April the duty judge stated it to Mikalai Charnavus who came to the court to register his appeal against the unlawful re-election of the Council of the central market of Baranavichy (held by the administration).

09.04.2012 Liavontski Chapurnykh applies to UN Human Rights Committee

Brest-based activist of the Belarusian Leftist Party "Fair World" Liavontski Chapurnykh applied to the UN Human Rights Committee.

09.04.2012 Ex-political prisoner Aliaksandr Malchanau sentenced to 1.5 years in high-security prison

On 9 April Judge of Zhodzina City Court Hrynevich issued a verdict to the former political prisoner Aliaksandr Malchanau and Artsiom Ihnatsikau.

09.04.2012 Hrodna: court confirms that refusal to be fingerprinted at work is "insubordination"

Hrodna resident Ruslan Piatsko, levied with a fine of 700,000 rubles (about $86) for the alleged insubordination to the demand of a duty official to pass dactylographic registration, received an answer to his appeal against the fine.