The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2014

03.03.2014 Ukrainian detained in central Minsk for asking when Lukashenka's regime will collapse

During the Maslenitsa festivities in Niamiha Street in Minsk on Sunday, 2 March, 28-year-old Ukrainian writer Anton Chernychka was detained for coming up to a policeman and asking when Lukashenka's regime would collapse.

03.03.2014 Bialynichy District election commission conceals information about prior convictions of pro-government candidates

Bialynichy district newspaper “Zara nad Druttsiu" (№ 15 dated February 22, 2014) published information on the registered candidates for the Bilaynichy District Council of Deputies, but somehow forgot to print the information about their criminal records.

03.03.2014 Political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich applies for safe confinement conditions

The application was caused by frequent provocations against the political prisoner. Mikalai Statkevich thinks he faces more provocations due to the deteriorating economic situation in the country and the authorities' desire to make him apply for clemency.

02.03.2014 Brutal dispersal of mass event in support of Ukraine

At 2 p.m. on March 2 activists of various civil society movements tried to hold a protest action near the Embassy of the Russian Federation. They were met by paddy wagons and policemen, most of whom were dressed in civvies.

02.03.2014 Salihorsk activist of the United Civil Party again appeals actions of the district newspaper at the Office of Prosecutor General.

The Office of the Prosecutor General forwarded to the Minsk Regional Prosecutor's Office the appeal of Deputy Chairman of the Minsk regional organization of the UCP Viktar Malochka concerning a violation by the district state-owned newspaper “Shakhtsior” of the Law “On Applications of Citizens”.

02.03.2014 Shklou activists complain about violations of electoral legislation

February 28, BPF Deputy Chairman Ryhor Kastusiou filed a complaint with the Shklou District Prosecutor's Office in order to draw attention to violations of the electoral legislation during the publication of the data of candidates for the Shklou District Council in the district newspaper “Udarny Front”.

02.03.2014 Horki: alternative candidate complains about biased attitude of the electoral commission

Entrepreneur Andrei Bazhko became popular among Horki district residents after a picket near the local PMC in 2011, when he demanded to pay the money earned by him in the JSC "Aleksandryiskaye" in the Shklou district. Mr. Bazhko managed to get his demands implemented. He is not a member of any political party and positions himself as an independent candidate.

02.03.2014 Rechytsa: independent candidate gets warned for nothing

On February 28 at a meeting of the Rechytsa District Election Commission a candidate for the district council, coordinator of the civil campaign “Tell the Truth!” Aleh Shabetnik was issued with a warning.