The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for June 2013

05.06.2013 Aleh Hruzdzilovich presents books "Who blasted Minsk metro?"

At the presentation Belarusian civil society activists discussed the media coverage of high-profile criminal trials, the dangers for the journalists, and the methods by which the state is trying to change public opinion.

05.06.2013 Maryna Adamovich: "These authorities are illegitimate as long as at least one person refuses to write a clemency petition"

Maryna Adamovich comments on the situation around her husband and other prisoners of conscience.

04.06.2013 OSCE media freedom representative urges Belarusian government to reform media regulations

There is an urgent need to reform and liberalize Belarus’ media regulations, Dunja Mijatovic, the OSCE representative on freedom of the media, said in Minsk on Tuesday while meeting with members of the country’s lower parliamentary chamber, the House of Representatives.

04.06.2013 Report on human rights presented at Human Rights Council of UN

The report was prepared by the special rapporteur on Belarus, Miklos Haraszti. The 23rd session of the UN Council on Human Rights opened in Geneva on 27 May and was attended by human rights activists from Belarus.

04.06.2013 Valiantsin Stefanovich reminds Belarusian authorities about international undertakings from UN tribune

On 4 June the deputy head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" participated in an interactive dialogue about the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus.

04.06.2013 Belarusian human rights defenders raise voices in support of Voronezh human rights house

The Voronezh Human Rights House has been situated in Tyuryupa Street, 34 for more than 20 years, housing the oldest civic and human rights organizations in the region. This House is well-known in Russia and abroad as one of the largest Russian centers of civic activities, education and youth initiatives.

04.06.2013 Fate of workers of Kruhlaye Flax Factory remains unclear

Workers of the open corporation "Kruhlaye Flax Factory" continue struggling against the shutdown of the enterprise.

04.06.2013 "Secrets of investigation" disclose details about personality of latest death convict

The program "Secrets of investigation", broadcast at the 1st channel of the Belarusian TV on 1 June, was dedicated to the new death convict.

04.06.2013 Official trade-union conceals real wages at "Bellehpram" concern

Last week, a sitting of the departmental Council on labor and social issues took place. It was attended by the head of the National Committee of the trade union of light industry Mikhail Kastsian, the head of the concern Mikhail Suchkou, the first deputy head of the concern Siarhei Misurahin, etc.

04.06.2013 Hrodna Regional Court to consider case on extremism in "Press-photo Belarus 2011" on 24 June

The Hrodna Regional Court will consider the appeal of Belarus Press Photo-2011 contest on 24 June. The photo albums of the yearly national photo competition were found extremist by court of Ashmiany on 18 April; if the decision is upheld on appeal, 41 copies of the albums will be destroyed.

03.06.2013 Brest:UN Human Rights Committee recognizes violation of the personal immunity of Zhana Koush

The UN Human Rights Committee has taken a decision on a complaint filed by a Brest activist of the Movement "For Freedom", Zhana Koush. The decision states that Belarus violated her right to freedom and personal immunity by unlawful detention.

03.06.2013 Baranavichy: historical feast held despite official bans

On 2 June a historical and cultural feast was held in Milavidy (the Baranavichy district) to commemorate the insurgents of 1863.

03.06.2013 Vitsebsk regional BCD assembly disrupted by authorities

The regional assembly of the Belarusian Christian Democracy was disrupted as a number of regional activists were unable to take part in it, being summonsed to work at the weekend.

03.06.2013 Mikalai Statkevich preparing "Freedom's Way"

While serving his prison term, Mikalai Statkevich uses the assistance of his wife, Maryna Adamovich, in compiling a new book, "Freedom's Way", a collection of his essays and articles for the last decade.

03.06.2013 628 people kept in cell-type prison facilities in Belarus

According to the Belarusian State Statistic Service, 628 people were kept in cell-type prison facilities in Belarus at the end of 2012, the smallest number in the recent years.