The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for November 2013

19.11.2013 Angela Merkel demands release of Belarusian political prisoners

Political prisoners in Belarus should obtain the possibility to speak and act freely. Angela Merkel spoke of that to Bundestag members, Radio Svaboda reports.

19.11.2013 Ukraine’s experience: Abolition of the death penalty fails to cause boost in homicides

In the late 1990’s Ukraine saw heavy debate on whether to abolish the death penalty. One of the arguments of supporters of retaining the death penalty was the claim that it will cause a significant increase in the number of murders, saying that when criminals are not afraid of punishment, it is much easier to kill people.

19.11.2013 Censorship of prisoners’ correspondence: how to eliminate unreasonable restrictions?

Censorship of mail correspondence of prisoners is one of the most extensive problems reported to human rights defenders from Belarusian prisons. Analyzing the practice, lawyer Pavel Sapelka compares it with the situation in prisons abroad, as well as considers the rules of national law in this area in the context of international human rights standards.

19.11.2013 Human rights defender Andrei Bandarenka released

Andrei Bandarenka, leader of the of the human rights institution “Platform Innovation”, was released today after serving five days of arrest.

18.11.2013 Vasil Parfiankou to stand another trial on November 28

The Court of Minsk’s Pershamaiski district will hear on November 28 the charges brought against former political prisoners Vasil Parfiankou. He is accused of violating the rules of serving preventive police supervision (Article 421 of the Criminal Code).

18.11.2013 Hlybokaye activist sues district executive committee over picket ban

Dzmitry Lupach, an activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, is appealing a court ban on the rally of solidarity with political prisoners scheduled for November 23. He believes the ban is illegal and asks the court to admit this and to oblige the executive committee to allow the event.

18.11.2013 Mother of death convict Pavel Sialiun petitions Lukashenka

The woman asks to pardon her son, as well as to arrange a meeting with the death convict.

18.11.2013 Supreme Economic Court turns down publisher’s lawsuit against Ministry of Information

The Supreme Economic Court considered today a lawsuit filed by the publishing house “Lohvinau” requesting to cancel the order of the Ministry of Information to revoke the company’s license.

18.11.2013 Mikalai Authukhovich deprived of meeting with mother

The meeting with relatives was scheduled for November.

18.11.2013 Activists detained for anti-alcohol leaflets in Homel

The co-chairman of Young Front Andrej Cianiuta and an organization’s activist Stanislau Bula have been detained in Homel.

18.11.2013 Slonim: executive committee consistently denies permission for pickets

Ales Masiuk, an activist from the town of Slonim, Hrodna region, was not allowed to stage another picket scheduled for November 17 in the town park. The picket was expected to support the right of Slonim district residents to freely subscribe to the independent newspaper Hazeta Slonimskaya using the Belarusian post network, as well as to freely buy it at the Belsayuzdruk newsstands. The ban signed by the Acting First Deputy Chairman Uladzislau Hershhoryn was received just four days before the planned event. It explains that on the same day and time the location in Opernaya Street will be occupied by a mass public event entitled “Younger Generation – Ready!” to mark the International Students’ Day.

16.11.2013 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders demands to release Andrei Bandarenka

The Observatory was informed of the arrest and sentencing of Mr. Andrei Bandarenka to five days of imprisonment. Mr. Bandarenka is the Director of the human rights organisation “Platforma”, which monitors conditions of detention in Belarus.

15.11.2013 Human rights activist demands to amend the Law “On Psychiatric Care”

The new Law of the Republic of Belarus № 349-3 “On Psychiatric Care” came into force on January 7, 2012. It may seem just another bill, but it is necessary to pay special attention to some seemingly insignificant articles.

15.11.2013 Havel Prize nominees congratulate Ales Bialiatski

A letter of congratulation to Ales Bialiatski currently held in Babruisk penal colony came from the Hungarian-based Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC).

15.11.2013 Statement by the Human Rights Center "Viasna" regarding the arrest of human rights defender Andrei Bandarenka

On November 14, the Court of Minsk’s Maskouski district considered the administrative case opened against the director of the private cultural and educational institution “Platform Innovation” Andrei Bandarenka, as a result of which the human rights activist was found guilty of violating Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (violation of the order of organizing and holding mass events) and sentenced to five days in prison.