The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for October 2014

15.10.2014 FIDH and Human Rights Centre “Viasna” demand to stop harassment of civil society activist Pavel Vinahradau

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" protest and outrage over the illegal actions of the Belarusian authorities in respect to the opposition activist Pavel Vinahradau.

14.10.2014 Andrei Kasheuski gets 15 days of arrest for “Freedom to Political Prisoners”

Smaliavichy activist and newspaper distributor Andrei Kasheuski was detained back on October 9 for walking near the central department store in Minsk (TsUM) in a T-shirt “Freedom to Political Prisoners” with the names of the prisoners on the back.

14.10.2014 Mikhail Miakhedka fined for attempting to get an audience with Chairman of Supreme Court

October 13 Mikhail Miakhedka, a resident of Minsk who unsuccessfully tried to get an appointment with the President of the Supreme Court,was detained by security guards at the courthouse and taken to the Leninsky District Court of Minsk. He was accused of participating in an unauthorized mass event (Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code) and punished by a fine of 2,250,00 rubles by Judge Aliaksei Kamushkin.

14.10.2014 Plan of for reconstruction of historical buildings not implemented in Mahiliou

It follows from a reply of the deputy head of the Mahiliou City Executive Committee Andrei Kuntsevich.

14.10.2014 Belarusian Popular Front introduces abolition of death penalty in its party program

The recent congress of the Belarusian Popular Front, which took place in Minsk on Saturday, adopted many decisions declarations and changes to the program of the party.

14.10.2014 20 books by Zianon Pazniak seized from Pavel Seviarynets

The books will be delivered to the Hrodna City Executive Committee for an examination, which is to figure out if the books are extremist.

13.10.2014 Hrodna: administrative case suspended, laptop not returned though

Hrodna resident Volha Krapotsina has received a response from the police bureau of the Hrodna Regional Executive Committee. There it is stated that the printed production, seized from the activist on September 19, was sent for examination, and the administrative case against her was suspended.

13.10.2014 Baranavichy and Brest: death penalty as reflected in cinema

In Brest, there was held a public viewing of the Belarusian language version of the film “Twelve Angry Men” was held within the framework of the campaign “Un-death Penalty. Because We Are People”. The film, which is a classic of the world cinema and was recognized as one of the best court dramas by the American Film Institute, was presented to Brest participants of the language course "Language Anew" ("Mova Nanova").

13.10.2014 Press conference on arbitrary detention of opposition activists

Due to the aggravation of the problem of arbitrary detentions and arrests of opposition activists, October 15 the Human Rights Center "Viasna" holds a press conference to announce a human rights campaign on this issue and present a report prepared in cooperation with the FIDH.

13.10.2014 Vitsebsk human rights defenders disseminate materials against death penalty

Vitsebsk human rights defenders marked the World Day against the Death Penalty by posting stickers with the text “We Are against the Death Penalty” in the city. They also handed out relevant informational production in the center of the city. According to the website “Vitsebsk Viasna”, printed editions were also thrown into postboxes in some houses.

13.10.2014 Political prisoner Alinevich thrown into penal cell

Ihar Alinevich will spend 10 days in a penal cell.

13.10.2014 State bodies reply to BAJ statement

Some state bodies, to which BAJ sent the statement against administrative prosecution of freelance journalists, give unsatisfactory replies.

13.10.2014 Young Christian Democrats demand to put an end to the torture of young activists

The organizing committee of the public association “Young Christian Democrats” issued a statement concerning the systemic administrative prosecution of young activists

13.10.2014 Mahiliou: meeting on the World Day against the Death Penalty

October 10, Mahiliou human rights defenders held an event to mark the World Day Against the Death Penalty.

13.10.2014 Biaroza activists call to introduce a moratorium on death penalty

On October 10, World Day against the Death Penalty, Biaroza human rights defenders and civil society activists signed postcards addressed to the President of the country, stating that "the death penalty violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This is an extremely cruel, inhuman and degrading kind of punishment."