The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for December 2014

03.12.2014 Fine to Paval Vinahradau annulled by court

The court of Maskouski district of Minsk rescinded the fine set by the deputy chief of Maskouski police department for the oppositionist.

03.12.2014 Trial of Yury Belenki postponed to December 17

Today's hearing on an administrative case against the Deputy Chair of the Conservative Christian party «Belarusian Popular Front» Yury Belenki has been postponed to 10 a.m. on December 17.

02.12.2014 Ales Bialiatski calls on the Danish MFA not to decrease the level of demands to the Belarusian regime

December 1 in Copenhagen, Chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Martin Lidegard.

02.12.2014 Krychau ideologist refuses from a part of her claims to “Volny Horad”

December 2, hearings on the lawsuit on protection of honor, dignity and business reputation and compensation for moral damage, filed by the head of the department of ideology, culture and youth affairs of Krychau Town Executive Committee Maryna Maksimava to the independent newspaper "Volny Horad", its publisher Uladzimir Kudrautsau and editor Siarhei Niarouny continued at Krychau District Court.

02.12.2014 Human rights activist demands that Belarusian MFA publish decisions of UN Human Rights Committee

December 1 Leanid Sudalenka, executive director of the Movement for the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights "Covenant" (which is in the process of creation) sent a statement to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry with a request to publish decisions of the UN Committee on Human Rights regarding Belarus at the official website of the Ministry.

02.12.2014 Brest: management of a park reluctant to enter into an agreement necessary to hold a picket

Brest human rights activists have appealed to Brest City Executive Committee to hold a picket on December 10, Universal Day of Human Rights.

02.12.2014 Hrodna: journalist Andrei Mialeshka got fined 60 mln rubles

December 2, Hrodna freelance journalist Andrei Mialeshka was sentenced to another fine under Article 22.9, Part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (illegal production and distribution of information products). Judge of the Leninski District Court of Hrodna Yury Kazakevich fined the journalist 6 million Belarusian rubles.

02.12.2014 Iryna Motsnaya got detained at court

Iryna Motsnaya, a mother who was denied the right to continue raising her adoptive children, was detained while coming out of the Klimavichy District Court, due to alleged earlier insubordination to the police.

02.12.2014 Ales Mekh to be tried for memorial action in Svislach

Charges have been presented to Mr Mekh and his son Anton Mekh (under age). Ales Mekh will be tried at the Kobryn District Court and the case against Anton Mekh will be considered by the committee on affairs of under-aged persons at Kobryn District Executive Committee.

02.12.2014 Salihorsk joins “Cities for Life – Cities Against Death Penalty” action

Salihorsk human rights activist have joined the annual action “Cities for Life – Cities Against Death Penalty”, held by the Catholic community of Sant'Egidio.

02.12.2014 Vitsebsk: more fines for photos with “birds and cages”

Trials of participants of a photo shoot with a graffiti, painted by an unknown artist, continue at the Chyhunachny district court of Vitsebsk. The graffiti depicts newspaper birds flying out of cages. The police qualified the photoshoot as "unauthorized picketing".

02.12.2014 Maladzechna residents oppose construction of large pigstries

November 29 in Maladzechna local human rights activists held a meeting of the lawyer of the association “Green Network” Tatsiana Sinitsa with opponents of building two huge pigstries on the territory of Maladzechna district.

01.12.2014 Bialynichy activists join “Cities for Life” campaign

Civil society activists distributed the book “Who Needs Death Penalty?” by Valery Filipau. The action was timed to the joint action "Cities for Life - Cities Against the Death Penalty", which is held on November 30 in many countries.

01.12.2014 Yury Belenki to be tried once more December 3

Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front Yury Belenky to stand trial for the third time. December 3 at 11 a.m., Minsk City Court will consider an administrative case for violation of the order of conduct of a mass event, the rally in Kurapaty on Forefathers' Day, November 2.