The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2013

08.04.2013 Andrei Haidukou to stay in KGB prison for another month

The investigative group of Vitsebs Regional KGB Department continues the investigation into the “espionage case”, within the framework of which the 23-year-old worker of the state enterprise “Naftan” Andrei Haidukou is charged with “high treason”. No details of the investigation have been given publicity so far – the case remains a complete secret.

08.04.2013 Baranavichy: civil activist appeals actions of police officer

On 8 April Viktar Syrytsa filed an appeal to Baranavichy prosecutor against actions of police major Pavel Kulhavik who had protracted the time and then had refused to conclude the agreement for serving the picket the activist intended to hold on 25 March.

08.04.2013 Homel: human rights defenders ask Education Minister to include works of Roma in the school curriculum

Homel human rights defenders Maryia Klimovich and Ales Yauseyenka filed a letter to the Education Minister Siarhei Maskevich, asking him to include in the school curriculum poems and novels.

08.04.2013 Mahiliou activists start collecting signatures for adoption of Law "On Public Hearings"

The campaign was launched by the activists of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) who think that the adoption of the new law will contribute to the ordering of the existing juridical terminology, will make it possible to use the law in all spheres which concern the rights of common people and prevent tensions during clashes between the interests of the state and its citizens.

08.04.2013 Homel: incompetency of judges or justice imitation?

For the last six months the Belarusian Themis has been unable to find the issue of bringing a civil case on appeal of the head of Homel regional branch of the Belarusian Leftist Party "Fair World, Ualdzimir Siakerka, against his unlawful detrainment by Homel border guards on 14 October 2012 in the border crossing point "Tsiarukha".

08.04.2013 Brest city budget gets partially unveiled

After a group of Brest residents applied to Brest Region Council in connection with the reluctance of the city authorities to familiarize the public with the local budget, it was published in "Brestskiy Vestnik" newspaper.

08.04.2013 "Amnesty International" sues against prohibition of picket near Belarusian Embassy in Moscow

The international human rights organization decided to file a lawsuit against the prohibition of a picket near the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus by Moscow authorities.

08.04.2013 Dismissal of Hrodna lecturers is a political order

This is the opinion of doctor of historical sciences Ales Krautsevich.

05.04.2013 Minskers united against compaction

Initiative groups of citizens protesting against the policy of the compacted construction in Minsk, have signed a memorandum on cooperation and mutual assistance. With the mediation of the "European Perspective" they want to influence the urban planning of Minsk City Executive Committee.

05.04.2013 Viachaslau Shved gets officially dismissed from Hrodna State University

The order for the dismissal of the doctor of historical sciences was signed by the rector of Hrodna State University, Andrei Karol.

05.04.2013 Vitsebsk Regional Court dismissed appeal of Leanid Autukhou

Leanid Autukhou, the head of Vitsebsk regional branch of the Belarusian Popular Front, wanted to appeal a verdict, issued by Ina Harbatouskaya, Judge of Kastrychnitski District Court of Vitsebsk, on 25 March.

05.04.2013 Website of Mahiliou "Viasna" branch resumed its activity

The website of Mahiliou branch of the Human Rights Center "Viasna", mahilyowspring.org, started working again. The deleted two-year's information was restored, the slandering articles, published by unidentified persons, were deleted. Specialists are working at the increase of its security.

05.04.2013 Swedish human rights defenders demand to exclude Belarus from "Eurovision" contest

Their other demand is to exclude the Belarusian TV from the European Broadcasting Union.

05.04.2013 Slonim: it is prohibited to open ventilation panes and windows on Tuesday

On Tuesday, 9 April, President Lukashenka intends to pay a visit to Slonim worsted spinning factory.

05.04.2013 KGB finds "Belarus Press Photo-2011" album extremist

Photo journalist and co-organizer of the contest "Belarus Press Photo" Yuliya Darashkevich published this information at her Facebook account on 4 April. The albums were confiscated at the border crossing point "Kamenny Loh" on 12 November 2012.