The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2014

19.03.2014 Many polling stations in Mahiliou lack boards for campaign materials

It is reported by a candidate for the Mahiliou City and Regional Councils of deputies, Aliaksei Paulouski.

19.03.2014 Citizens refuse to vote for “demagogues who ignore us and laws"

On March 18 a group of citizens from different regions of Belarus announced their refusal to participate in the upcoming local elections. At a meeting with journalists in Minsk they talked about their reasons for mistrust to "puppet" deputies.

19.03.2014 Observers report violations at polling stations in Vitsebsk

Most observers state that ballot boxes were left unsealed during lunch break. Human rights defender Pavel Levinau witnessed such a violation.

19.03.2014 Brest observer urged to show documents not specified by law

On March 17, during the accreditation of observers at polling station No. 52 in Brest the Election Commission members demanded that Uladzimir Vialichkin provided an application of his nomination as an observer.

18.03.2014 Babruysk Blogger Fined for YouTube Video

March 17, the Babruysk district court fined blogger Aleh Zhalnou for 45 basic amounts for a video showing his visit to the head of the local police.

18.03.2014 Mikalai Autukhovich to face police supervision after release

A court session was held today in Hrodna prison to address the possibility of subjecting political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich to preventive police supervision after his release due on 8 April. The prisoner’s lawyer was not able to attend the trial, having received the notice only half an hour ahead of it.

18.03.2014 Hrodna Regional Election Commission rejects complaint by local BPF leader Vadzim Saranchukou

On March 17, the Hrodna Regional Election Commission, as reported by an independent observer Viktar Sazonau who attended its latest meeting, considered two questions – a complaint by the chairman of the city branch of the BPF Party Vadzim Saranchukou and preparations for the elections by representatives of the police and the Ministry of Emergencies.

18.03.2014 Minsk trials: 5 people jailed, 2 – fined

They were accused of an unauthorized action – a pre-election picket where they supported Belarusian political prisoners near Minsk Kamarouski Market on March 16.

17.03.2014 UCP Homel activist sentenced to 10-day arrest over picketing

Judge Siarhei Sheustruk of Homel’s Savetski district found UCP member Uladzimir Shytsikau guilty of violating procedures for organizing a mass event and punished him with 10 days of arrest. The hearing took place without witnesses, as one who wanted to support the detainee was allowed in the courthouse.

17.03.2014 Mikalai Ulasevich deprived of candidate’s registration

Mikalai Ulasevich, a candidate for the Varniany Rural Council in constituency No. 4, Hrodna region, has been deprived of a candidate’s status by a decision of the election commission. The decision refers to the candidate’s alleged calling for the boycott of the elections featured in his leaflets.

17.03.2014 Journalists Briefly Detained on Sunday

TV journalists Natallia Valakida and Ales Silich were detained when they were covering an electoral picket in Minsk.

17.03.2014 Election pickets banned in Mikashevichy

Leanid Dubanosau, a candidate for the Mikashevichy Town Council, planned to hold pickets on 15-16 March at an officially authorized place, which he reported to the town executive committee.

17.03.2014 Brochures with UN HRC decision in Uladzislau Kavaliou case distributed in Brest

Belarus has once again ignored a decision of the UN Human Rights Committee, as the authorities have not printed or distributed the international body’s opinion in the case of Uladzislau Kavaliou executed on charges of committing a terrorist act in the Minsk metro. As a result, the death convict’s mother, Liubou Kavaliova, printed the Committee’s decision at her own expense.

17.03.2014 Vaukavysk activist Vital Huliak fined 1.3 mln over solidarity with Ukraine

Vital Huliak, an opposition activist of the town of Vaukavysk, Hrodna region, has been sentenced to a fine of 1.3 mln rubles by the Vaukavysk District Court. He was detained by police on March 13 for staging a picket in support of Ukraine. Vital Huliak came out with a Ukrainian flag and the banner "No to War! Putin Out!" The trial was scheduled for March 14, but was adjourned till the 17th.

17.03.2014 Police seize leaflets "Freedom for Political Prisoners!" at election picket in Minsk

Police seized about 200 election leaflets from a BPF candidate, Illia Dabratvor, who staged yesterday a picket in front of Minsk’s Kamarouski market. The special attention to the campaign materials was caused by information about Belarusian political prisoners and the slogan "Freedom for Political Prisoners!"