The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 14 Jun 2013

14.06.2013 Death verdict delivered in Homel

4 June the Homel Regional Court issued a verdict in a criminal case against a 25-year resident of Homel, accused of killing a student of the Homel State University named after Skaryna Natallia Yemelyanchykava. The extremely cruel murder took place on 20 September 2012, the victim suffered 102 stab wounds. The girl died just few meters away from her house.

14.06.2013 Espionage case: trial of Andrei Haidukou postponed

As stated by Andrei's mother Volha Haidukova, his counsels told her that the trial would continue on Monday.

14.06.2013 Council of Europe expects from Belarus more than moratorium on death penalty

Official Minsk also has to demonstrate progress on freedom of elections and the media.

14.06.2013 Head of Östgruppen: in the end, justice will prevail in Belarus

The issue of human rights in Belarus remains the focus of attention not only of the Belarusian human rights activists, but also of foreign human rights organizations. A great work on the dissemination of information on human rights in Belarus, solidarity actions and many other directions of activity is done by the Swedish human rights organization Östgruppen. This is stated by the head of the organization, Martin Uggla.

14.06.2013 Babruisk: discrimination of members of Free Trade Union continues

The pressurizatin of members of the Free Trade Union of Belarus continues at At the Babruisk plant of tractor parts and units. The conflict between the adminsitratioon and the trade union has a long history and the head of the trade union organization even had to go to court to get the right to be let to the territory of the plant.

14.06.2013 Human rights defender Viktar Adzinochanka comments on death sentence in Homel

A member of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Viktar Adzinochanka commented on the death sentence pronounced on 14 June in Homel to a 25 year-old man.

14.06.2013 "New Life" church is evicted from its temple, pastor taken to resuscitation department

On 13 June the church "New Life" received a summons from the court bailiff of the Minsk City Economic Court of Minsk A. Scharbovich about the beginnig of enforcement proceedings against the church. The community was given seven days to vacate the building in Kavaliou Street 72. The ruling was issued by the Minsk City Economic Court on the basis of the Maskouski District Housing Management of Minsk.

14.06.2013 Brest authorities believe that compaction of city center is not a matter of public interest

Brest Regional Executive Committee responded to protests by residents of Karbyshau Street who are unhappy with the plans to build a seven-story building in their yard.

14.06.2013 Case on defamation of BSDP to be considered by appellate court

The administration of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party and its member Mikalai Zalozny filed appeals to the Mahiliou Regional Court against a verdict of the Leninski District Court of Mahiliou, asking to reverse the verdict and return the case for review.

14.06.2013 Statement by the spokespersons of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle on the adoption by the Human Rights Council of a resolution on human rights in Belarus:

The spokespersons of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Commissioner Štefan Füle made today the following statement: