The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for May 2013

03.05.2013 Yan Melnikau to spend all Easter holidays in jail

"For Freedom" activist Yan Melnikau was detained by police in the evening of 2 May. He was holding a streamer "Anarchism is not a crime. Ihar Trukhanovich is not a criminal" in Gorky Park in Minsk.

03.05.2013 Brest: authorities bann pickets in honor of Yury Zakharanka

Brest activists of the United Civil Party filed 12 applications to Brest City Executive Committee to hold pickets and remind about the fate of the former Minister of Interior Yury Zakharanka on 7 May (he went missing back on 7 May 1999).

03.05.2013 Baranavichy activists congratulate political prisoners on Easter

During the first May days Baranavichy civic activists congratulated the Belarusian political prisoners on Easter holiday, sending them letters and nice postcards. The activists hope that it will help the prisoners not to feel abandoned.

03.05.2013 Byalynichy: police inspector holds another questioning concerning “BelSat” journalists

In the midday on 2 May police inspector of Bialynichy District Executive Committee Alyaksandr Yemelyanau came to the house of Valery Vusik in the village of Lebyadzyanka and asked how the latter got acquainted with independent journalists and how the report about the "Lebyadzyanka" farm appeared on the TV channel "BelSat".

03.05.2013 Does publication of newspaper in Belarus violate the equality of state languages?

In February members of Slonim branch of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy gathered 39 signatures under an address to the chief editor of the “Slonimski Vestnik” newspaper, calling to return the Belarusian language to its pages, which had been completely replaced by Russian.

03.05.2013 Today Is the World Press Freedom Day

The day declares freedom of expression as one of the highest values.

02.05.2013 Belarus is among world's worst countries on freedom of press

Freedom House has published its report on freedom of the press in 2012. Belarus got in the list of the most repressive countries.

"Viasna" urges the authorities to stop the practice of pressurizing civic activists and take measures for the abolishment of Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code

02.05.2013 "Viasna" urges the authorities to stop the practice of pressurizing civic activists and take measures for the abolishment of Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" urges the Belarusian authorities to stop the practice of intimidation and pressurization of civic activists and immediately decriminalize the activity of unregistered organizations.

02.05.2013 Entrepreneurs waiting for a Law on Charity, Patronage and Sponsorship

The Confederation of Entrepreneurs insists on the adoption of the Law on Charity, Patronage and Sponsorship.

02.05.2013 Police inspector questions independent journalist about "BelSat" staff

In the morning of 2 May an inspector of Byalynichy District Police Department, police lieutenant Alaksandr Yemyalyanau, paid a visit to the private house in the agrarian settlement of Vyalikaya Mashchanitsa. He said that the main reason for the visit was the wish to find out how the information about the "Lebyadzyanka" farm got to the satellite TV channel "BelSat" and whether the journalists who shot the report were members of "BelSat" staff.

02.05.2013 Brest: verdict to Vital Koush abolished

The decision was taken by the panel of judges of Brest Regional Court on criminal cases, which considered the cassation appeal of the activist who had been sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment.

02.05.2013 Memory about priests who were shot in Orsha (video)

In the 1920-1930ies the shootings of priests were conducted within the borders of the then Orsha (near Mahilyou highway, where suburb-3 is located). This place hasn't been marked in any way yet and there is no memorial sign there. According to local core researcher Yury Koptsik, local dwellers use it as a recreation place, being unaware they drink alcohol on the graves.

02.05.2013 Brest: Labor Day action authorized for the first time in 11 years

The May Day rally in Brest was permitted by the authorities for the first time since 2002. On the eve of the event the representatives of the democratic forces who organized the event concluded service agreements with the police, medics and public utilities, which is required for the authorization of mass events.

01.05.2013 Vitsebsk police passing case of Chernobyl picket to Kastrychnitski District Court

On 30 April the member of the Conservative-Christian Party "Belarusian Popular Front" Yan Dziarzhautsau was charged with a violation of the Law "On Mass Events". The police summonsed him to Kastrychnitski District Police Department in order to register the violation which they hadn't witnessed – the violation report was drawn up on the basis of the photos found on the Internet.

01.05.2013 Babruisk: customs officers are ready to return Niakliayeu's poems to political activist

The leader of Babruisk branch of the United Civil Party Viktar Buzinayeu received a notice from the customs officers due to the "completion of the customs examination". Bear in mind that on 29 March the Buzinayeus' car was detained on the border and several brochures and a book of Uladzimir Niakliayeu's poems were found in it.