The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for February 2014

05.02.2014 Hrodna: only admission of the observer is discussed during the formation of the PECs

On February 4 the district executive committees of Hrodna formed precinct election commissions.

05.02.2014 Babruisk police “questioned” and “examined” blogger Aleh Zhalnou for more than 11 hours

Babruisk blogger Aleh Zhalnou was detained in the morning of February 4 and released only after spending 11.5 hours at the police department.

04.02.2014 Baranavichy: human rights defender appeals to Constitutional Court

Human rights activist Siarhei Housha wrote a letter to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus. He reports that the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations (hereinafter HRC Committee) adopted two positive decision on his appeals.

04.02.2014 Vital Rymasheuski is summoned to police

Co-chair of the organizing committee of the party "Belarusian Christian Democracy" Vital Rymashevski has received a subpoena to the Savetski District Police Department of Minsk for February 7.

04.02.2014 Baranavichy District Executive Committee conceals information about the establishment of PECs

Baranavichy District Executive Committee conceals information about the electoral process. Such conclusion was made by a human rights activist Siarhei Housha who tried to get at least any information about the sitting of the executive committee for establishment of precinct election commissions appointed on February 3.

04.02.2014 Residents of Slonim ask authorities to permit shedding

They follow advice of police officers, who detained young people sledding down the hill on Friday.

04.02.2014 Hlybokaye activists bid for Constitution Day picket

The action is organized by the local civil society activists Yaraslau Bernikovich and Zmitser Lupach, who decided to run for the regional and the district council at the current elections.

04.02.2014 BATE fan: “At the police station I was shown a photo and told that I was in it”

One of the fans BATE anonymously told Radio “Liberty” how the police were persecuting Barysau fans of the football club BATE for holding an action of solidarity with the Ukrainian protesters.

04.02.2014 BPF members in Pinsk district refuse to run in “elections”

Members of the BPF party from Pinsk announced their final decision at the regional assembly of the party in Brest.

03.02.2014 Campaign “Human Rights Defenders against Death Penalty in Belarus” marks its fifth anniversary

The campaign "Human Rights Defenders against Death Penalty in Belarus" was formed in early 2009, and the fifth anniversary initiative is an occasion to make some conclusions. What has been done and what can be done to achieve more? The achievements of the initiative and the difficulties faced by the human rights defenders over the years, are revealed in the conversation with the coordinator Andrei Paluda.

03.02.2014 Electoral picket of Maryna Khomich attacked by people in mufti

Unidentified people hinder the picket of the speaker of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, leader of the organizing committee of the public association “Young Christian Democracy” Maryna Khomich.

03.02.2014 Food Not Bombs – Bone in Police's Throat

On the eve of the World Hockey Championship in 2014, which will be held in Minsk , the authorities are trying to suppress any grassroots initiatives and clean the streets from anyone who spoils the "image" of a prosperous and socially oriented state.

03.02.2014 Policeman threatens to pinion participants of BCD rally and take them to woods

The incident took place on Sunday near Belarus supermarket, where a member of Zavadski district’s electoral commission Volha Kryzhanouskaja together with policemen (the surname of one of them was Bobryk) demanded to stop a rally collecting signatures for nominating a candidate for municipal elections from the party Belarusian Christian Democracy.

03.02.2014 Four people arrested at shooting of pro-Lukashenka film

People were detained for chanting “Long live Belarus!” and speaking to extras. A young man shouted “Long live Belarus!” on Nezalezhnasts Avenue during the filming of scenes for the propaganda movie “Abel”. He was detained by security officers.

Homel: Uladzimir Siakerka tries to find out whether the rally of pro-government communists and BRYU was permitted by the local authorities

03.02.2014 Homel: Uladzimir Siakerka tries to find out whether the rally of pro-government communists and BRYU was permitted by the local authorities

February 2 Chairman of the Homel regional branch of the Belarusian Leftist Party "Fair World" Uladzimir Siakerka sent electronic appeal to Chairman of Homel City Executive Committee Piatro Kirychenka. Mr. Siakerka was outraged at receiving no response from the executive committee to his appeal of November 21, 2013, which is a violation of the law "On Appeals of Citizens and Legal Entities". The politician demands to be given an answer according to the law.