The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2015

02.04.2015 Svetlahorsk investigator refuses to see arbitrariness of the local police

“Who am I complaining to?” - that's the question asked to the regional prosecutor by the mother of Aliaksandr Akulich who died in the pre-trial prison of Svetlahorsk District Police Department. Despite the numerous inspections in this case, the contradictions in the testimonies of the police guards, pointed at by human rights defenders and the court, are ignored by the investigator Viachaslau Petachenka.

State earns money on freedom of assembly: Baranavichy public utilities require about 1 mln roubles for cleaning the territory after a picket

02.04.2015 State earns money on freedom of assembly: Baranavichy public utilities require about 1 mln roubles for cleaning the territory after a picket

Baranavichy housing and utilities require a payment of about 1 million Belarusian roubles for cleaning after a picket. It follows from the contract, concluded with this agency by the trade union activist Ryhor Hryk. The agreement says that the cost of the work performed on cleaning-up (three cleaners working for two hours) is determined by the Contractor in accordance with the pricelist and is 971,555 roubles.

02.04.2015 Police again scare residents of Homel region with Romany

Human rights defenders Maryia Klimovich and Ales Yauseyenka have repeatedly raised the problem of discrimination against Roma in the media, where they are often referred to as potential criminals and citizens are warned against contacts with them.

02.04.2015 BLS has prepared a list of arguments about the discrimination of the Belarusian language

The facts gathered by Frantsishak Skaryna Belarusian Language Society (BLS) can be safely used in arguments when your opponent asks for evidence that the Belarusian language in Belarus is oppressed.

01.04.2015 Yury Liashenka challenges actions of medics who detained him while picketing

April 1, Salihorsk civil society activist, wheelchair user Yury Liashenka filed a claim to the Salihorsk District Court. He asks the court to find the actions of the medics who detained him at a picket, took him to hospital contrary to his will and injected him with an unknown substance illegal and violating his right not to be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

01.04.2015 Amnesty International publishes Death Penalties and Executions 2014

This report covers the judicial use of the death penalty for the period January to December 2014. Amnesty International reports only on executions, death sentences and other aspects of the use of the death penalty, such as commutations and exonerations, where there is reasonable confirmation.

01.04.2015 Malpractice of military offices: 1.5 years of personal restraint for evasion from medical examination

In late March, the Minsk District Court found a young draftee, citizen of the Minsk district, guilty of evading from the military service and punished him with 1.5 years of personal restraint with sending him to an open correctional facility.

01.04.2015 Brest prosecutor's office asked to check construction works on the territory of Brest fortress for compliance with legislation

The reason for the appeal, filed to the prosecutor's office by the head of the Brest regional branch of Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) Ihar Maslouski, are the construction works and putting sewage on the territory of the memorial complex "Brest Fortress".

01.04.2015 Another picket banned by Baranavichy authorities

Baranavichy City Executive Committee prohibited the trade union activist Ryhor Hryk to hold a picket against the violation of the Constitution and laws by local officials, under the slogan “Let's bring activities of the authorities under civilian control".

01.04.2015 Brest journalist fined Br5.4 million

Inna Khomich was found guilty of cooperation with foreign media without accreditation. Independent journalist was fined 30 basic units (Br5.4 million). Moscow District Court of Brest has taken the decision on April 1, Euroradio reports.