The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for August 2013

02.08.2013 Homel leftists are banned to picket due to... rehearsals of dance ensembles

The bans on mass events in Homel are getting more absurd (if the scale of absurdity can be measured). In particular, representatives of the Belarusian Leftist Party intended to hold a picket on 6 August in the only place, officially determined for such events – the ground near the Culture House of the Association of the Deaf “Vipro”.

02.08.2013 Pavel Vinahradau was questioned about the attachment of white-red-white flag to electric train

The transport police took explanations from the social activist Pavel Vinahradau concerning the placement of the national flag on an electric train for Minsk. The activist wrote about it in his Facebook account.

02.08.2013 Pickets of solidarity with Ales Bialiatski and other political prisoners are still banned

Babruisk applicants for a picket of solidarity with Ales Bialiatski and all political prisoners received an official answer that their event was not authorized. The answer, signed by the deputy head of Babruisk City Executive Committee Viktar Dziasiatnik, provides several reasons for refusal.

02.08.2013 Vitsebsk journalists receive threat letters

The same day Siarhei Serabro and Alena Stsiapanava received analogical letters with the heading “Know, what your tongue can lead you to”. Somebody, who signed as Yauhen Mishakou, criticizes there the information policy of Radio “Liberty” and “BelaPAN” and insults independent journalists. Though no names are mentioned in the letter, the author's intentions are quite clear.

02.08.2013 Baranavichy: court returned the case against Mikhail Charnavus to police

Baranavichy entrepreneur and social activist Mikhail Charnavus received a letter signed by the chairman of the Baranavichy City and District Court, Mikalai Kmita. The official writes that according to the court ruling of 29 July 2013 the administrative case against him was returned to the police so that they could correct the defects in it.

01.08.2013 4 August – International Day of Solidarity with Civil Society of Belarus

Non-governmental organizations around the world take part in the International Day of Solidarity with Belarusian civil society for the second year already. It is celebrated on 4 August, the anniversary of the detention of the Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski.

01.08.2013 Actions to be held on the International Day of Solidarity with Civil Society of Belarus

Moscow, 4 August. At 4 p.m. a round table with the participation of human rights defenders and experts who study the development of the civil society in Belarus will take place at the Center for saving resources (design factory "Flacon", Bolshaya Novodmitrovskaya Street, 36-26-7. The experts will read short reports and answer the questions asked by the public.

01.08.2013 Babruisk: member of Free Trade Union of Belarus gets dismissed

On 31 July Dzmitry Kurmaz, adjuster of automatic lines and transfer machines of the 5th grade, was dismissed from the Babruisk Plant of Tractor Parts and Units. He worked at the plant since 2007 and had no disciplinary punishments. The worker is sure he was dismissed because of his membership in the FTUB.

01.08.2013 Pavel Vinahradau summonsed to transport police

The leader of the "Zmena" Pavel Vinahradau was summoned to transport police by telephone. The activist intends to pay a visit there on 2 August.

01.08.2013 “Bialiatski's Case” to be presented in Moscow

On 4 August, the second anniversary of the arrest of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, actions in his support will take place in many countries of the world within the framework of the International Day of Solidarity with Belarusian civil society.

01.08.2013 Committee to Protect Children Established in Babruisk

Human rights activists, journalists and representatives of political movements formed a committee to protect children in connection with the recent kidnapping of the daughter of the Babruisk activist of the organizing committee of the party "Belarusian Christian Democracy" Viachaslau Sheleh. This decision was approved at their roundtable in Babruisk.

01.08.2013 Baranavichy activists gets fined for “participation” in canceled public event

Katsiaryna Hruda, Judge of the Baranavichy City and District Court, fined the head of the Baranavichy organization of the Belarusian Language Society, activist of the “For Freedom” movement Viktar Syrytsa 2 million rubles.

01.08.2013 Brest: student activists launch campaign in support of visa-free regime between Belarus and EU

The action "Journey to the Edge of the World", carried out by representatives of the Association of Belarusian students, starts on 1 August in Brest.

01.08.2013 Pickets in support of Ales Bialiatski are still banned in Belarus

Human rights activist Siarhei Housha and social activist Viktar Syrytsa received a letter signed by the deputy chairman of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee, Dz. Kastsiukevich. They were informed that the executive committee doesn't permit holding an informational picket on 4 August 2013 in support of the imprisoned human rigths activist Ales Bialiatski, who has spent two years in prison already.