The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for November 2012

22.11.2012 Ales Kirkevich faces administrative charges

Minsk police interrogated today civil activist Ales Kirkevich over his involvement in the memorial action held in Svislach district on 27 October.

22.11.2012 Human rights defender who was expelled from Belarus last year included in human rights council under aegis of Russian president

Russian human rights defender Andrey Yurov, who was expelled from Belarus in March 2011, has become a member of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights under the aegis of the President of Russia, BelaPAN said.

22.11.2012 European Belarus activists detained in Minsk

Two activists of the European Belarus opposition movement were detained this afternoon while handing out the printed version of the Charter97 web-site.

22.11.2012 UN Human Rights Committee rules in the case of Uladzislau Kavaliou

Mrs. Liubou Kavaliova, the mother of Uladzislau Kavaliou (Kovalev), executed for plotting and implementing a lethal blast in Minsk underground in April 2011, received the decision of the UN Human Rights Committee. The complaint was considered in less than a year. The Committee recognized that the investigation was conducted with numerous errors, Kavaliou was subjected to physical violence and forced to testify against himself, the court was not impartial and, most importantly, the right to life was violated.

22.11.2012 BAJ proposes Poczobut and Bialiatski for Index on Censorship 2013 Award

Each year, Index celebrates individuals and organisations from around the globe who have shown outstanding courage and creativity in safe-guarding free speech.

22.11.2012 Human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka fined 500,000 over tax charges

A fine of five basic units (500,000 rubles) was awarded on November 21 by the Tax Inspection of Savetski District of Homel to human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka, after he faced charges under Article 23.9 of the Administrative Code (“violation of procedures for the submission of the tax declaration”).

21.11.2012 BCD activist appeals harassment by KGB

Aleh Aksionau, Mahiliou activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, filed today an appeal to the court of the city’s Leninski District challenging a decision by local KGB officials who instituted supervision over the activist putting him on a preventive record.

21.11.2012 Andrei Stryzhak detained on border

A trade union activist had his belongings searched. His laptop was seized.

21.11.2012 Poczobut's Case Extended Till December 21

It was announced by the official representative of the Investigative Committee in Hrodna region Siarhei Sharashanevich.

21.11.2012 Radio Racja director denied Belarusian visa

Jauhen Wapa received a visa denial stamp in his passport in the Belarusian consulate in Bialystok.

20.11.2012 Informal legal school for Roma people to be arranged in Homel

Homel human rights activists announced yesterday the opening of a legal school for Roma. The decision was made based on the results of a roundtable discussion on Roma-related discrimination. The event was organized by local activists of the organizing committee of the party "Belarusian Christian Democracy".

20.11.2012 Baranavichy police reject early vote rigging allegations after two months of “investigation”

On November 19, human rights defender Siarhei Housha received a response from the Department of the Interior of Baranavichy city executive committee signed by its deputy chief Colonel Aliaksandr Trafimau. The police official succinctly summarizes that no trustworthy data on forcing the students of Baranavichy State University to early voting in the parliamentary elections has been received during the consideration of Siarhei Housha’s statement.

20.11.2012 Orsha officials accused of manipulating public opinion

Orsha community is heating up around the proposed unification of the town and the district, after local executive authorities announced that they were going to examine citizens' opinions on the issue. After 28 days of “opinion polls”, the executive officials voiced stunning result – 22,600 residents of Orsha and nearly 6,000 more inhabitants of the district reportedly had one’s say.

20.11.2012 Minsk Economic Court turns down Platforma’s appeal

The appeal board of Minsk Economic Court rejected today an appeal lodged by the “Platforma” human rights NGO against the Court's earlier decision on its dissolution. According to Platforma’s leader Andrei Bandarenka, the complaint was considered in the absence of the NGO’s representatives.

20.11.2012 Some 30 people demonstrate in Warsaw to demand freedom for Dashkevich, Statkevich

Some 30 people staged a demonstration in Warsaw on November 18 to demand the release of Belarusian political prisoners Zmitser Dashkevich and Mikalay Statkevich.