The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 2 Mar 2015

02.03.2015 Mikhail Kukabaka: Who and what will investigate in the country of lawlessness?

Mikhail Kukabaka, the famous Belarusian dissident living in Moscow, shared with the human rights defenders of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” his views on the murder of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.

02.03.2015 Pavel Levinau unable to challenge picket ban

The court session was held in an unusual format - a conference on Skype. Pavel Levinau had hoped that deputy head of the administration of Pershamaiski district Volha Hurchanka would give her comments on-line. But she did not participate in the trial, even with the assistance of modern technology.

02.03.2015 Baranavichy: Leader of local entrepreneurs summoned to Prosecutor's Office

Mikalai Charnavus, leader of Baranavichy entrepreneurs, has been summoned to local Prosecutor’s Office for questioning. The activist says he received the summons on March 2.

02.03.2015 Supreme Court: no evidence of neglect of Belarusian language in courts

The Supreme Court has found no evidence of neglect of the Belarusian language by judges of Minsk’s district courts, says a response received by volunteer of the HRC "Viasna" Uladzimir Andryenka, who earlier sent a statement about a violation of his right to use his native language in court.

02.03.2015 Wave of Warnings to Regional Newspapers

Several local paper newspapers received warnings from the Information Ministry for minor insufficiencies.

02.03.2015 Ales Bialiatski asks Italian activists to continue fight for political prisoners in Belarus

Ales Bialiatski, Mayor of Syracuse Giancarlo Garrozzo, Heather McGill of Amnesty International’s International Secretariat, Giuseppe Provenza, Amnesty International’s National Coordinator, and Amnesty activists

02.03.2015 Entrepreneurs’ protest leader detained in Minsk

At about 11.30 this morning, businessman Ales Makayeu received a phone call from an unknown person who tried to find out where he lived, according to his wife Yuliya Stsiapanava.

02.03.2015 About 100 football fans detained in Minsk

Fans were going to play a friendly match, but got detained by police.

02.03.2015 Hary Pahaniayla: Additional prison term means Dziadok wasn't broken

Political prisoners have always been treated in a biased way: if you are against the system, you must be broken down.

02.03.2015 Amnesty International: Murder of Boris Nemtsov must be meaningfully investigated

The killing of Boris Nemtsov, one of Russia's most prominent political activists, must be promptly, impartially and effectively investigated.

02.03.2015 Exhibition of posters against death penalty opens in Homel

On February 27, the Homel-based socio-political center hosted the opening of an exhibition entitled “Six Arguments Against the Death Penalty”. The exposition features posters by artist Aleh Ablazhei and works from the funds of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. The exhibition will last a week.