The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 1 Feb 2013

01.02.2013 Orsha and Orsha district left without local authorities

Many citizens of Orsha and the Orsha district were surprised at reading an announcement, printed in a small font in the last issue of the local state-owned newspaper:

01.02.2013 Biaroza and Pruzhany activists commemorate executed participants of the national liberation uprising of Kastus Kalinouski (photo)

Civil activists from Biaroza and Pruzhany proceeded by the road of death of Kastus Kalinouski's insurgents. This is the 3-kilometer road from the village of Sharashava to the village of Kupichy, where Muravyov's hangmen executed insurgents in 1863.

01.02.2013 Ales Bialiatski: "These words are not for me alone"

The imprisoned head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski keeps receiving letters and postcards from all over the world. Though the holiday fuss is already over, sometimes he receives as many as 100 letters a day.

01.02.2013 No public discussion in Mahiliou

The construction of a new house in the Yubileiny suburb will take place despite the protests of the local dwellers.

01.02.2013 Baranavichy: Mikalai Charnavus raises the problem of transport in the village of Rusiny

The Baranavichy entrepreneur and civil activist Mikalai Charnavus filed a letter with 81 signatures of villagers to the Soviet of Ministers and the Brest Region Executive Committee.

01.02.2013 "Solidarity chain" continued by Minsk activists

The Minsk democratic activists Aleh Lisitski and Ihar Mazheika held a photo action in support of the Hrodna human rights defenders Uladzimir Khilmanovich, Viktar Sazonau and Raman Yurhel and the Navapolatsk activists Siarhei Malashenkau and Yauhen Parchynski.

01.02.2013 Baranavichy: Mikalai Charnavus intends to hold rally against increase of business tax

The Baranavichy entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus applied to the Baranavichy City Executive Committee to receive an official permission for holding a rally against the increase of the tax on business on 12 February.

01.02.2013 Kobryn: Ales Mekh detained for talking

The civil activist Aliaksandr Mekh was detained by the police officer Anatol Dzhyha for discussing the state debts of Belarus in a queue for fluorography.

Authorities are not going to issue money for agitation leaflets no more, NGOs won't be given the right to nominate candidates for Parliament

01.02.2013 Authorities are not going to issue money for agitation leaflets no more, NGOs won't be given the right to nominate candidates for Parliament

Aliaksandr Lukashenka has held a council on the amendment of the electoral legislation.

01.02.2013 Minsk city organization of the Belarusian Christan Democracy holds constituent assembly

The constituent assembly of the civil-educational association "Movement "Belarusian Christian Democracy" took place in Minsk on 31 January.

01.02.2013 Police start putting down passport data of visitors of foreign Embassies

The Belarusian police started putting down the passport information of the persons who visit the Embassies of the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany. This information was passed to "Charter'97" by the leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Liabedzka.