The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for July 2013

15.07.2013 Slonim authorities continue destroying the green zone

Slonim residents and local members of the association of democratic forces have been struggling against deforestation in the Albiartsin suburb in Voikau Street. The local authorities want to cut down the trees so that rich people and state officials could build cottages there. Earlier the cutdown was stopped. However, on 11 July it resumed and ten pine trees were cut.

15.07.2013 Mikalai Charnavus questioned about protest actions of entrepreneurs

On 12 July Baranavichy entrepreneur and civic activist Mikalai Charnavus was summoned to the Baranavichy City Police Department, where Deputy Chief Pavel Kulhavik questioned him for about 30 minutes about the unauthorized rallies of entrepreneurs on 27 June and 1-2 July.

15.07.2013 Solidarity postcards passed to Pavel Seviarynets

Following the monthly tradition, Biaroza activists visited the prisoner Pavel Seviarynets. They provided him with spring water, food and handed postcards from families who took part in the solidarity action "Week of Political Prisoners". Last week was dedicated to Pavel Seviarynets. Pavel thanked for the solidarity with him and for the kind words. He also said he had already received postcards from Brest.

12.07.2013 Brest residents apply to prosecutor's office to protect their property rights

Dwellers of the house in Astroustki Street, 10 filed an appeal to the prosecutor's office. The reason is that the Brest City Executive Committee requires their eviction, citing the emergency condition of the building.

12.07.2013 Baranavichy: trial on the prohibition of Milavidy feast postponed to 15 July

On 12 July the hearings on the appeal of an activist of the civic campaign "Tell the Truth" Viachaslau Bolbat against the bans on the Milavidy fest in the memory of insurgents of 1863, issued by the Baranavichy District Executive Committee on 3 and 20 May, took place at the Baranavichy District and City Court.

12.07.2013 Trial of Vitsebsk journalist Alena Stsiapanava delayed

The Kastrychnitski District Court of Vitsebsk returned the charges against her for review by the Kastrychnitski District Police Department of Vitsebsk.

12.07.2013 Ales Bialiatski doesn't believe he will be released soon

The imprisoned head of the Human Rights Center "Viasn" wrote it in his letter to Tamara Matskevich, the deputy head of the Belarusian Language Society. Despite the hard conditions in the penitentiary No. 2 in Babruisk, Bialiatski keeps bravely.

12.07.2013 Mahiliou resients require apologies from Lukashenka for threat to "tear off heads"

Eleven residents of Mahiliou expressed dissatisfaction with the facts of advocating violence, rudeness and death threats addressed to state officials, allowed by the head of the state in the live air of the Belarusian TV.

12.07.2013 Homel residents join "Week of Political Prisoners"

An action in support of political prisoners is held by the public-political center in Paleskaya Street, 52 in Homel and was organized by the Homel human rights defenders from "Viasna" and "Salidarnasts". All interested people can come there and write postcards for the Belarusian political prisoners.

12.07.2013 Zhlobin: court admits the mistake, but dismisses the claim

Judge of the Zhlobin District Court Sniazhana Halavenchyk dismissed the claim of the human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka in favor of a worker of the Belarusian Steel Works (BSW) Maryia Mirayeuskaya with the requirement to collect a pension from her employer for more than four years.

12.07.2013 Bykhau policemen to be deprived of wage bonuses

The reason for this is their lack of professionalism. In a letter received from the Ministry of Internal Affairs by a villager of the village Dabuzha (Bykhau district, Mahiliou region) Aliaksandr Shachanok, it is stated that the facts drawn by the villager in his letter to the ministry, were confirmed and the police department of the Mahiliou Regional Executive Commitee was ordered to conduct a repeated check-up and draw the guilty to the legal account.

11.07.2013 Prosecutor demands three years in penitentiary for "Fair World" member again

On 19 July at 12 a.m. the Zhlobin District Court will deliver a verdict in the case of a member of the Belarusian Leftist Party "Fair World" Yauhen Basareuski.

11.07.2013 Mahiliou: court turned down Alieh Aksionau's appeal

On 10 July the Leninski District Court of Mahiliou didn't grant the appeal of an activist of the organizing committee of the party Belarusian Christian Democracy against a warning issued to him by the KGB on 19 April, allegedly for his activities on behalf of an unregistered organization (a crime under Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code).

11.07.2013 Week of political prisoners in Hrodna, Klimavichy and Biaroza

In Hrodna an action of solidarity with political prisoners was organized by human rights defenders from "Viasna" and "Salidarnasts". During four hours they handed out several hundreds of postcards, asking the people to sign and pass them to political prisoners.

10.07.2013 First hearing in the case of dismissed trade union activist Leanid Dubanosau

The hearings on the case of an activist of the trade union organization at the "Granite" enterprise Leanid Dubanosau started at the Luninets District Court.