The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for January 2013

18.01.2013 “Bialiatski’s Case” presented in Minsk

The Minsk-based Ў gallery hosted yestreday the presentation of a book entitled “Bialiatski’s Case”, a documentary novel by journalist Valer Kalinouski. The event was attended by Ales Bialiatski’s relatives and colleagues, as well as prominent human rights defenders, political and cultural figures.

17.01.2013 Liabedzka charged for giving out leaflets

The leader of the United Civic Party received a note saying that he violated the legislation in regards to organizing mass events when he was giving out the party’s brochures in the street.

17.01.2013 Mahiliou court issues invalid answers

According to independent trade union activist Aliaksei Paulouski, the response issued by Mahiliou Leninski District Court to his appeal is legally invalid, as it has no registration code and the date of issuance.

17.01.2013 Navapolatsk authorities use all means to ban pickets

The pro-democratic activists of the town of Navapolatsk have for three times now applied for staging a picket of solidarity with political prisoners, as well as against the impoverishment of the Belarusian population under current economic policies. Their bids were rejected three times, including due to lack of contract for police maintenance of the events...

16.01.2013 Commemorative event in honor of a true friend of Belarusians (+photos)

On 14 January in Minsk the democratic society of Minsk marked the day of memory of a well-known Czech dissident, the symbol of the "velvet revolution", first president of the Czech Republic Vaclav Gavel, who had passed away on 18 December 2011.

16.01.2013 Mikalai Ulasevich demands that Ashmiany district customs office to returned his belongings and paid a compensation

The civil activist from the Astravets district Mikalai Ulasevich filed a counter-claim against the Ashmiany District Customs Office to the Ashmiany District Court.

16.01.2013 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in December 2012

In December, the foreign policy still played a decisive role in the situation of human rights in Belarus. The general stagnation in the relations between the Belarusian authorities and the European democracies determined the stably bad situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms without significant deterioration during the reported period.

16.01.2013 Police summon founders of the national youth LGBT-organization in Minsk, Baranavichy, Brest, Mahiliou and Vitsebsk

On 15 January the department on drugs control and counteraction to human traffic of the police bureau of the Brest City Executive Committee summoned two founders of the Belarutian national youth civil association "Lambda" (the label under which "GayBelarus" is trying to legalize its activities for the second time), born in 1991 and 1993. The constituent assembly of the organization took place in Minsk on 8 December 2012.

16.01.2013 Navapolatsk police also trace solidarity actions through Internet

The Navapolatsk activist Yauhen Parchynski was summonsed to the police for photos with portraits of Bialiatski at the entrance of the Navapolatsk City Court. Another participant of the action, Siarhei Malashonak, says he is ready to any development of the events, including a trial and a fine.

16.01.2013 Mikalai Statkevich is again persuaded to write pardon petition

The political prisoner wrote about it in a letter to his wife.

16.01.2013 Minsk authorities refuse to talk with representatives of "New Life"

The negotiations about a meeting at the Minsk City Executive Committee have lasted since the end of November when the church lawyer Siarhei Lukanin talked about it with the deputy head of the reception department.

16.01.2013 Iryna Khalip: "Don't believe to Lukashenka! I am still prohibited to leave the country"

Aliaksandr Lukashenka stated that the journalist Iryna Khalip refused to leave Belarus.

16.01.2013 Ales Bialiatski answers greetings of Baranavichy human rights defenders and civil activists

On 15 January Ales Bialiatski answered to Baranavichy human rights defenders and civil activists who had sent letters and postcards to all political prisoners on the eve of the New Year holidays.

16.01.2013 Brest: information in favor of the accused Vital Koush voiced at the court hearing

On 15 January the hearings on the case of the civil activist Vital Koush, charged with assistance to illegal migration, continued at the Brest District Court.

16.01.2013 Uladzimir Lemesh: "The police didn't let me go after the trial"

The Salihorsk activist of the "European Belarus" Uladzimir Lemesh, fined by the Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk, told about the circumstances of his detention.