The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for September 2014

16.09.2014 Pavel Seviarynets presents “Belarusian Depth” in Mozyr

September 13, a presentation of the book by a former political prisoner and leader of the Belarusian Christian Democrats Pavel Seviarynets, “Belarusian Depth”, was held with the assistance of the local branch of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”.

16.09.2014 Quick Silver of Live Presented in Vitsebsk (photos)

The author, ex-political prisoner Ales Bialiatski came there together with the compiler of the book Alena Laptsionak. At a meeting in the "European club" they told the story of the creation of a collection of essays written in the Babruisk penal colony, where he served a prison term for his human rights activities.

16.09.2014 Mahiliou citizens ask to be informed about repairs of historical values

An appropriate appeal to the Mahiliou City Executive Committee was signed by 24 people. The reason for the appeal was the plan for year 2014, adopted by the officials.

16.09.2014 Criminal proceedings into disappearance of Aliaksandr Shachanok instituted in Homel

This was reported by human rights activist Barys Bukhel who maintains contact with the investigators. Last time Aliaksandr Shachanok was seen August 27, when leaving the building of the Bykhau District Court. August 29, his relatives started looking for him and then applied to the police.

16.09.2014 Zmitser Kramianetski continues struggling for his right to monetary compensation

The Tsentralny District Court of Homel dismissed the claim of the activist of "Young Front" Dzmitry Kramianetski to the police department of the Homel Regional Executive Committee and the Ministry of Finances of the Republic of Belarus for pecuniary compensation for moral damages.

15.09.2014 Prison censors confiscated Mikalai Statkevich's letter to his father

Censors of the Mahiliou prison, where the former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich is serving his term, seized his letter to his father, Viktar Statkievich. This happened for the first time in nearly four years, notes Mikalai's wife, Maryna Adamovich.

15.09.2014 BPF postpones party conference for lack of premises

The Belarusian Popular Front’s party conference planned for September 13, has been postponed for a month in connection with the difficulties in finding premises to rent.

15.09.2014 “Zmena” activists arrested in Minsk

September 11, friends and relatives were unable to contact an activist of “Zmena” (youth wing of “Tell the Truth”) Yahor Viniatski. As reported by his mother, Aliaksandra Viniatskaya, whom he was allowed to phone after a trial, he was sentenced to 15 days of arrest. There is no information about the essence of the charges to him so far.

12.09.2014 Azerbaijan: Acts of violence in prison against Ms. Leyla Yunus

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Azerbaijan.

12.09.2014 Ice Bucket Challenge: members of HRC “Viasna” support “Vostok-SOS” (video)

Representatives of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” take part in a charitable flash-mob in support of the activities of the Ukrainian initiative “Vostok-SOS”.

12.09.2014 Stateization of public activism taking place in Russia

President Putin decided to award millions to human rights defenders against the background of the ongoing attack on "foreign agents" including a number of human rights NGOs. Human rights activists fear of the possibility of being smothered in the embraces of such prizes.

12.09.2014 Homel: the trial concerning the expulsion of Andrei Tsianiuta from university is delayed for inviting an interpreter

On September 12, the Tsentralny District Court of Homel started hearing a civil case of the co-chair of the "Young Front" Andrei Tsianiuta.

12.09.2014 Human rights defender Anatol Paplauny exposed lies of head of the regional court

For half a year, the Chyhunachny District Court of Homel has been denying the human rights activist in familiarization with an administrative case concerning his legal interests.

12.09.2014 Salihorsk: «Young Front» activist summoned to police

In the evening on September 10, an activist of the local branch of the «Young Front» Andrei Tychyna has received a telephone call from police officer Yauhen Zhylin, who «invited» him to the Salihorsk district police department for a talk.

12.09.2014 7 journalists got killed and 265 cases of beating registered in Ukraine

Since the beginning of the year, the Institute of Mass Information (Ukraine) registered 7 cases of killings of journalists in Ukraine, 265 cases of beatings and attacks on journalists, 119 facts of creating obstacles to lawful professional activities of journalists and 120 cases of censorship.