The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 12 Feb 2013

12.02.2013 CE Human Rights Commissioner supports Belarusian human rights defenders

Human rights commissioner Nils Muižniek has warned member states over the “mixed signals and Realpolitik ” which undermine human rights in Belarus.

12.02.2013 Belarusian Christian Democracy calls to hold a "Wave of Solidarity" with political prisoners

The Belarusian Hhristian Democracy holds a "Wave of Solidarity" with prisoners of consciousness. Various actions will be held on a daily basis in 35 towns and cities of Belarus on 12 February – 24 March.

12.02.2013 Counsel finally allowed to meet with Andrei Haidukou at the KGB prison

On 11 February the counsel met with Andrei Haidukou who is charged with state treachery in the form of intelligence activities.

12.02.2013 Cases of the missing persons must not be dropped

The investigation into the cases of the missing politicians, which has lasted for 14 years, failed to establish the circumstances of their disappearance and the protractors. Meanwhile, the time limitation on these cases ends in a year. After 2014 the authorities can without a qualm of conscience state they "have done everything possible, but the bodies of the missing and the people guilty of their disappearance haven't been found".

12.02.2013 Homel NGOs to establish organization on disregard of decisions of the UN Human Rights Committee

On 12 February in Homel there took place a meeting of the civil and political activists, the violation of whose rights by Belarus had been officially confirmed by decisions of the UN Human Rights Committee or whose complaints are pending at the Committee.

12.02.2013 Provocations against political prisoner Statkevich resumed

According to statkevich.org, on 8 February the former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich phoned his relatives.

12.02.2013 "Indifference kills" trilogy (video)

A number of actions aimed at the abolishment of the death penalty is conducted within the framework of the "Human Rights Defenders Against Death Penalty" campaign. One of the directions of activism is informing the public that Belarus is the last country of Europe and on the post-Soviet space where this barbarian kind of punishment is still used.

12.02.2013 Liubou Kavaliova declared "Person of the year 2012 in Vitsebsk"

Liubou Kavaliova, the mother of the executed death convict Uladzislau Kavaliou (found guilty of the 11 April terrorist act together withDzimitry Kanavalau), still continues struggling for the good name of her son.