The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for July 2012

27.07.2012 Zhodzina authorities ban picket of solidarity with political prisoners

The authorities of the town of Zhodzina have banned a picket in support of Ales Bialiatski and other political prisoners scheduled for 4 August.

27.07.2012 Rights defender urges company's staff to annul nomination of Viktar Huminski for House of Representatives

Human rights defender Ihar Lednik has petitioned the staff of AAT Ekran to annul their decision to nominate Viktar Huminski for the House of Representatives.

27.07.2012 Joint Statement of 15 international MPs on the situation in Belarus

27.07.2012 Polish MEP Marek Migalski, as a participant in Libereco-Partnership for Human Rights’ Prisoner’s Godparenthood Campaign, issued a statement on the situation in Belarus, which was supported by 14 other international members of parliament. Today, they expressed their support for the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus and called upon Belarusian authorities to cease the persecution of dissidents, human rights defenders and journalists in Belarus and to release and exonerate all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.

26.07.2012 German MP takes on prisoner’s godparenthood for Anton Surapin

Bijan Djir-Sarai, Member of the German Bundestag and of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, has taken on a prisoner’s godparenthood for Anton Surapin.

26.07.2012 Euroradio reporter Vital Ruhain released, court orders case review

Vital Ruhain, journalist of the Euroradio independent channel, has been released in the courtroom, after Judge Tatsiana Tkachova ordered to review the case.

26.07.2012 Pavel Seviarynets denied amnesty

Pavel Seviarynets, one of the persons convicted for involvement in the 19 December 2010 post-election protest and co-chair of the Belarusian Christian Democracy’s organizing committee, has been officially denied amnesty, the BelaPAN news agency reports.

26.07.2012 USA demands to release political prisoners

This was stated by the United States Ambassador to the OSCE Ian Kelly.

26.07.2012 Hrodna HR defender urges authorities to investigate election violations

Hrodna member of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Raman Yurhel has lodged statements with the Central Election Commission and the Prosecutor General’s Office, urging the high officials to investigate alleged violations by local election commission No. 48.

26.07.2012 CEC orders Interior Ministry to take measures against Statkevich's supporters

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has refused to register initiative groups of former presidential candidates Statkevich and Mikhalevich.

26.07.2012 Mahiliou election campaigner not allowed canvassing in state-owned hostel

The administration of Mahiliou-based hostel of the “Abldarbud” state-owned enterprise has not allowed canvassing for votes on its premises by Belarusian Popular Front activist Valiantsina Shchetnikava.

26.07.2012 Maladechna authorities ban picket of solidarity with political prisoners

Maladechna district executive committee has banned a picket of support to Ales Bialiatski and other Belarusian political prisoners, referring to an earlier engagement for the location.

26.07.2012 Election picket stopped in Baranavichy

The administration of Baranavichy-based Central Market ordered to stop a canvassing picket staged at the market by local entrepreneur and potential candidate for Parliament Mikalai Charnavus.

26.07.2012 Rules for nomination of observers to election commissions legal, says CEC chair

The scope of legal entities authorized to nominate their representatives to constituency election commissions is logical and fair, says Mrs. Lidziya Yarmoshyna, head of the Central Election Commission, in her reply to a complaint by Mahiliou human rights defender Barys Bukhel.

Human rights activists urge Supreme Court and Prosecutor General's Office to discuss situation with illegal preventive detentions of civil society activists

26.07.2012 Human rights activists urge Supreme Court and Prosecutor General's Office to discuss situation with illegal preventive detentions of civil society activists

Representatives of a number of leading human rights organizations of Belarus – Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Human Rights Center "Viasna", Committee for the Protection of the Repressed "Solidarity", the Centre for Legal Transformation and the Center for Human Rights – have sent a joint appeal to the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus Aliaksandr Kaniuk and Chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus Valiantsin Sukala requesting a meeting to discuss the situation with illegal preventive detentions of civil society activists and representatives of youth opposition groups, in order to put an end to this illegal practice and bring the perpetrators to justice.

26.07.2012 Authorities warn prisoner rights group that it may be shut down

The authorities have warned a prisoner rights group called Platforma that it may be closed down, Andrey Bandarenka, leader of the organization, told BelaPAN.