News for March 2015
22.03.2015 Brest Regional Court turns down appeal by human rights activist Siarhei Housha
Judge Nina Ustsimchuk of the Brest Regional Court said in her ruling that there were no grounds for cancellation of the decision of the court of the city of Baranavichy and Baranavichy district, which upheld the city authorities’ ban on a picket dedicated to the International Human Rights Day.
22.03.2015 Opposition activist in Mahiliou sends complaints to prosecutor over PC seizure
Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party and journalist Ihar Barysau has sent a complaint to the prosecutor about the seizure of computers that were taken by the police on March 12.
22.03.2015 Pavel Sapelka: Vigilance must have legal framework, otherwise it will turn into witch-hunt
Over the last month, in different places of Belarus – Minsk, Hlybokaye, Iuye – there have been a few cases where police officers detained people who photographed office buildings: journalists and ordinary passers-by. At the same time, law enforcement officers referred to a recent decision of the Minister of the Interior, which prohibited photographing a number of public and administrative offices (http://news.tut.by/society/438550.html), and the perpetrators may be held to determine their identity and other circumstances. Lawyer Pavel Sapelka comments on this ruling in the context of current legislation.
20.03.2015 EU Criticizes Belarus Over Death Sentence
The European Union has sharply criticized Belarus, the only European country that applies capital punishment, for sentencing a man to death.
20.03.2015 Martin Uggla: No place for Lukashenka in Riga
The EU should not turn a blind eye to human rights violations in Belarus.
20.03.2015 Issue of criminalization of torture is much wider than it is seen by the Belarusian lawmaker
Comments on the National Report to the Universal Periodic Review (second cycle) prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus. Issues that had previously been studied during the monitoring of places of detention, which was carried out by the HRC "Viasna" are touched upon in the report.
20.03.2015 Human rights defenders report more opportunities for wheelchair users in Salihorsk
Representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee in Salihorsk report the expansion of barrier-free environment in the city. These findings are part of activities for the preparation of another monitoring on the rights of persons with disabilities in the region.
19.03.2015 Foreign Ministry: “Prisoners’ complaints are carefully considered”
The authors’ statement on the possibility for prisoners in Belarus to challenge the illegal actions of prison staff deserves a full quote, as the mentioned statistics characterize the effectiveness of this procedure.
19.03.2015 Freedom Day pickets banned in Hrodna
Vadzim Saranchukou, Chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front’s Hrodna branch, has received from the local executive committee two bans on holding pickets dedicated to Freedom Day. Both bans were signed by the deputy chairman of the executive committee Zoya Kulesh.
19.03.2015 “Human Rights Defenders Against the Death Penalty” represent Belarus at barcamp in Kutaisi
For three days, the second capital of Georgia – Kutaisi – hosted an event that united guests from various non-governmental organizations of the South Caucasus, Belarus, Ukraine and other countries.
19.03.2015 Baranavichy officials ban rally against intimidation of entrepreneurs
The ban is signed by the deputy chairman of the executive committee Dzmitry Kastsiukevich. The official argues that the application failed to specify whether any vehicles would be used during the picket. In addition, the bid reportedly failed to mention specific measures to ensure public order, health care and clean-up after the event.
19.03.2015 Why are Belarusians cowed by the death penalty?
According to Ales Bialiatski, Aliaksandr Lukashenka is in no hurry to reform the law, primarily because he identifies today’s Belarus with the BSSR and the Soviet Union, where the death penalty was widespread.
19.03.2015 One hundred death penalty free countries within reach after Fiji becomes number 99
A couple of weeks ago, on 13 February, we woke up to the good news that Fiji had joined the ranks of countries to abolish the death penalty for all crimes. There are now 99 countries who have completely scrapped the ultimate cruel and inhuman punishment from their laws – exactly half of all states in the world.
18.03.2015 Crimea: One year on from annexation; critics harassed, attacked and silenced
The de facto authorities in Crimea have failed to investigate a series of abductions and torture of their critics, and resorted to an unrelenting campaign of intimidation to silence dissent, said Amnesty International in a briefing published today on the first anniversary of annexation.
18.03.2015 Independent journalist detained in Minsk
Radio Svaboda's journalist Halina Abakunchyk was detained near the shopping mall that Lukashenka visits today.
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