The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for October 2012

26.10.2012 Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal of former candidate for Parliament Ihar Sluchak

The Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of former candidate for Parliament Ihar Sluchak against a CEC’s decree due to the "absence of the applicant’s right to appeal to court." The Supreme Court explained that the opportunity to appeal decisions of the CEC is not provided by the Electoral Code.

26.10.2012 Baranavichy: administrative charges for free food

Baranavichy entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus has been charged with illegal organizing of a mass event (Art. 23.34 of the Administrative Code), after he arranged a charitable lunch at local market on 6 October.

26.10.2012 Brest human rights defender appeals violations at UN Human Rights Committee

Human rights defender Uladzimir Vialichkin has submitted a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee to challenge a ban on holding a picket in support of the imprisoned leader of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski.

26.10.2012 Arche Editor may face criminal charges

The case against the Arche magazine is a political order to destroy the edition, says its founder Andrei Dynko. According to him, the Belarusian authorities are looking for any reason to stop the printing of the independent magazine.

26.10.2012 Dashkevich may be transferred to supermax prison

A decision will be taken by the Mozyr court at a trial in prison on October 30.

26.10.2012 Letters from Statkevich: Political prisoner still cheerful, despite endless pressure by prison administration

For weeks, Maryna Adamovich, the wife of former candidate for president Mikalai Statkevich, had not received letters from her husband. But yesterday came two letters at once.

26.10.2012 Young Christian Democrats denied premises to hold congress

The organizing committee of “The Young Christian Democrats” public association has been denied premises to hold its founding congress, after none of its 14 bids was granted by Minsk authorities.

25.10.2012 He couldn't remain silent (Video)

A short film about political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovoch appeared on the Internet. The movie shows the real reasons for the arrest of the businessman and Soviet-Afghan war veteran.

25.10.2012 Brest journalist appeals obstacles by election officials

Back on 20 September, Milana Kharytonava, press photographer of the Brestskiy Kurier independent newspaper, lodged a complaint with the chairman of constituency No. 1, appealing obstacles she faced while exercising her professional duties at polling station No. 44.

25.10.2012 Belarusian Christian Democracy to try to have its local chapters registered as non-governmental organizations

Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD) plans to apply for the registration of its local chapters as non-governmental organizations, BCD Executive Secretary Dzyanis Sadowski told reporters in Minsk on Wednesday.

25.10.2012 Amnesty International: Urgent action needed as charges sustained against journalist Andrzej Poczobut

Charges against journalist Andrzej Poczobut of “libelling the President” have not been dropped. He still faces a prison sentence in Belarus of more than seven years. He has been targeted for his work as a journalist and for the legitimate exercise of his right to freedom of expression.

24.10.2012 Trade union activist appeals violations of trial procedures

Aliaksei Paulouski has lodged an appeal to Mr. Maimusau, chairman of the main department of justice of Mahiliou regional executive committee, to request an investigation to bring Leninski District Court chair Halina Kuzhaleva to liability for violation of procedures for the conduct of a court hearing.

24.10.2012 Vasil Parfiankou faces punishment cell

Opposition activist Vasil Parfiankou, currently serving his sentence in a penal colony in Baranavichy, may be placed in a punishment cell, after he received a reprimand from the prison administration, says his friend Volha, quoting a recent letter from the prisoner.

24.10.2012 Where do letters to Vaskovich disappear?

After repeated complaints of Yauhen Vaskovich on him not receiving letters his friends and colleagues from Babruisk decided to have a peculiar check.

24.10.2012 Barysau election commission turns down proposal to check voter lists

Vasil Lapatsin, observer representing the Fair World Party, has received a reply from Barysau-based constituency election commission No. 62, saying that his proposal to check voter lists had been dismissed.