The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for September 2012

14.09.2012 Khotsimsk: opposition candidate faces administrative charges

On 13 September, parliamentary candidate Valery Karankevich relieved a letter from Khotsimsk district executive committee, saying that administrative charges had been brought against the candidate.

14.09.2012 Rechytsa pro-government candidate meets voters in working hours

Adam Vashkou, candidate for Parliament running in Rechytsa constituency, had a meeting with employees of the district’s forestry during their working hours, says independent observer Valery Putsitski.

14.09.2012 Pro-government candidate in Pinsk violates election rules

The election posters of Mrs. Zinaida Mandrouskaya, member of the House of Representatives running for another term in Pinsk constituency No. 14, have appeared in a number of the town’s shops and state-owned organizations, observers of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign report.

14.09.2012 Fair World candidate silenced by state-owned media

Viktar Bury, candidate for Parliament representing the Fair World Party, has not been able to present his election programme on TV, radio and in state-run newspapers.

14.09.2012 BCD activist detained in Brest

Zmitser Shurkhai, activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, was detained last evening at Brest central bus station.

13.09.2012 Managers of Zhlobin’s major state-run enterprise favor pro-government candidate

According to Valery Rybchanka, candidate for Parliament representing the Fair World Party, his rival Leanid Apanasiuk, chairman of Zhlobin district executive committee, has held a number of meetings with employees of the Belarusian Steel Works on the premises of the enterprise.

13.09.2012 UN Human Rights Committee registers complaint by Valiantsin Stefanovich

The UN Human Rights Committee has registered a complaint submitted by deputy chairman of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Valiantsin Stefanovich. The complaint deals with extremely poor detention conditions the human rights defender was subjected to during his arrest back in 2010.

13.09.2012 Klimavichy candidate appeals election picket ban

Valery Karankevich, member of the Belarusian Popular Front Party and candidate for Parliament in Krychau constituency No. 83, has lodged a complaint with the prosecutor of Klimavichy district Aliaksandr Zemliakou against Mrs. Maryia Prakopchyk, head of the district executive committee’s ideology department, who banned the candidate’s election picket scheduled for 12 September.

12.09.2012 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in July-August 2012

In July and August, the human rights situation in Belarus deteriorated. Hopes for an easing of the political climate at the time of the parliamentary election campaign were not justified. None of the thirteen political prisoners were released. Moreover, new names were added to the list.

12.09.2012 Friends and relatives of opposition candidate threatened with dismissals

According to Aliaksandr Shylovich, candidate running for Parliament in Slutsk constituency No. 67, some of his relatives and friends working at state-owned enterprises have received threats from their employees.

12.09.2012 European Belarus activist Andrei Mouchan fined

The administrative commission of Minsk Pershamaiski District has fined Andrei Mouchan, activist of the European Belarus opposition movement, BYR 500,000 for alleged violating of Art. 21.14 of the Administrative Code (“violation of municipal utility regulations”).

12.09.2012 Ryhor Kastusiou appeals abuse of administrative resources by pro-government candidate

Ryhor Kastusiou, candidate representing the Belarusian Popular Front in Shklou constituency No. 90, has lodged a complaint with the Central Election Commission, saying that “candidate A. Aheyeu has abused administrative resources” to canvass for votes.

12.09.2012 Minsk authorities ban another picket

Minsk city executive committee has banned a picket applied for by a civil campaign against lawlessness of courts and prosecuting authorities.

12.09.2012 Viasna’s lawyers on new “creative idea” by police

For quite a long time now, the harassment of activists of pro-democratic public organizations through charging them with an administrative offence has been to human rights defenders some kind of a "standard": people keep being taken to courts almost every day. Of especially concern to the human rights defenders is the traditional sentencing of activists and participants of peaceful rallies on charges of "petty hooliganism" (Art. 17.1 of the Administrative Code).

12.09.2012 Brest: disloyal candidates face obstacles

The owners of a number of stores in Brest have been reluctant to allow posting election leaflets in their windows, observers of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign report.