The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2013

11.04.2013 Private house of human rights defender Uladzimir Malei robbed by unidentified people

On 9 April 2013, the private house of human rights defender Uladzimir Malei in Mazyr, where he has been living since the death of his mother, was robbed. The thieves broke in through a window.

11.04.2013 BAJ Calls on the KGB to Withdraw Legal Claim against "Belarus Press Photo 2011"

The Board of BAJ today adopted the text of an appeal to the head of Hrodna region KGB Ivan Korzh, who initiated the court hearing on recognizing the Belarus Press Photo 2011 albums extremist. BAJ asks the KGB to withdraw the case from court.

10.04.2013 "Nasha Niva" publishes its 10 April issue with white spots to express solidarity with "Press-Photo of Belarus"

The private Belarusian newspaper "Nasha Niva" removed all photographs from the front page of todays issue and published a large heading: "Beware of Extremism!" on the front page.

10.04.2013 Yan Melnikau gets fined for white-red-white flag

Activist of the "For Freedom" movement Yan Melnikau was punished with a fine for raising a white-red-white flag on 25 March in order to congratulate his compatriots on the Freedom Day.

10.04.2013 Ministry of Justice admits that Young Christian Democrats really held their assembly

On 9 April the Supreme Court held a sitting on the appeal of the registration denial, issued to the civil association "Young Christian Democrats" by the Ministry of Justice.

10.04.2013 Hrodna region: new administrative trial for photos

A new administrative trial for the publication of photographs is expected to be held in Hrodna region. On 25 March the civil activists of the city of Biarozauka traditionally commemorated a general of the Belarusian People's Republic, Kiprian Kandratovich, reburied near the Orthodox church in the district capital, Voranava in May 2000.

10.04.2013 Nina Bahinskaya gets fined 2,5 million rubles

On 10 April Maskouski District Court of Minsk considered a civil case against Nima Bahinskaya. Nina Bahinskaya was detained on Freedom Day, 25 March, for a prayer under a white-red-white flag near St. Symon and Alena church in Minsk. This is the traditional prayer, held by the relatives of political prisoners and civil activists near the monument of archangel Michael.

10.04.2013 Mikalai Ulasevich intends to hold a picket on anniversary of Chernobyl accident

Mikalai Ulasevich, a civil activist from the town of Varniany, filed an appeal to Astravets District Executive Committee for the authorization of the picket he wants to hold on 26 April to mark the 27th anniversary of the accident at Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

10.04.2013 Bresters start collecting signatures for gaining transparency in budget issues

Brest citizens proposed the local authorities to publish the budgets of all levels in the press and the internet and subject the reports on them to public discussions.

09.04.2013 PEN-center issues a public statement in support of independent photographers

The national civil association "Belarusian PEN-center" issued a statement in support of indepent photographers. According to media information, a civil case has been brought against Yuliya Darashkevich and Vadzim Zamirouski, the organizers of the artistic contest "Belarus Press Photo 2011" and the court proceedings against them will start soon.

09.04.2013 Orsha authorities declare war on informal hangouts

The number of police officers in the old Orsha site was probably sufficient to detain a professional armed gang. However, as it turned out, the police held a special operation against members of informal youth groups who used to hang out there.

09.04.2013 Homel: police, ambulance and city authorities oppose leftist May Day rally

Homel police and ambulance refuse to conclude the agreements for serving the May Day rally of the oppositionists, referring to the legal acts according to which such agreements can be concluded after the action is authorized by the city administration.

09.04.2013 Polish citizen Teresa Strzelec goes on hunger-strike in Belarus

Tereza Strzelec, who was banned from leaving Belarus, has gone on hunger strike in the Polish consulate in Brest.

09.04.2013 Homel Regional Court invents a new way of restricting civil rights

The head of Homel Regional Court, Siarhei Shautsou, invented a new way to limit the constitutional rights of citizens. He believes that such rights can be restricted due to "objective circumstances".

09.04.2013 Mahiliou KGB is getting more active

During the recent weeks Mahiliou KGB officers have tried to recruit several young activists of democratic organizations. The website of the Mahiliou branch of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" was hacked.