The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for February 2016

17.02.2016 Belarus replies to complaint in death convict’s case

The Belarusian government has responded to a complaint submitted the UN Human Rights Committee by Volha Hrunova, the mother of Aliaksandr Hrunou, who was executed in 2014. The woman asked to declassify the burial place of her son, and then complained to the UN Human Rights Committee about inhuman and degrading treatment.

16.02.2016 This year’s second death sentence handed down in Minsk (updated)

According to preliminary information received by representatives of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders Against the Death Penalty in Belarus”, the Minsk Regional Court has sentenced to death Siarhei Khmialeuski, 31, resident of the town of Mačuliščy, Minsk region.

16.02.2016 Police reject Alena Tankachova’s petition to mitigate entry ban

Human rights activist Alena Tankachova, who earlier wrote to the Minsk city department of internal affairs asking to reduce the period of her exile, has finally received a letter saying that her request was dismissed.

16.02.2016 Minsk court fines more protesters against police violence

The Court of Lieninski district of Minsk continued yesterday hearing the administrative cases of persons involved in a protest against police-related violence staged in front of the Supreme Court building on January 30.

15.02.2016 Court “Conveyor Line” For Protests Against Police Lawlessness

An activist of the BCD, a businessman Vitaly Staurovich has been fined Br3,150,000 for a protest rally near the Supreme Court.

15.02.2016 Journalist Kanstantsin Zhukouski charged with 2 more offenses

On February 13, freelance journalist Kanstantsin Zhukouski received by mail two administrative reports sent by the employees of Žlobin district police department. He is again accused of violating Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code – illegal manufacture of media products.

12.02.2016 Court in Homieĺ rejects human rights defender’s lawsuit against customs officers and border guards

The Homieĺ District Court rejected yesterday a lawsuit lodged by local human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka against the border and customs officers to demand 1 billion rubles in moral and material damage. Judge Aliaksandr Lisouski said that using violence to detain citizens at border was legal.

12.02.2016 KGB Forces Picture Editor To Admit Collaborating With Belsat

“Andrei” from the KGB came to the picture editor’s place of work and demanded to admit collaborating with independent TV channel.

12.02.2016 Viasna protests dissolution of Agora NGO in Russia

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" expresses its protest against a court order to close down a known Russian human rights organization Agora.

11.02.2016 Minsk court fines protesters against police violence

The Court of Minsk’s Lieninski district heard today the administrative charges brought against nine participants in a peaceful protest against police-related violence staged outside the building of the Supreme Court on January 30.

10.02.2016 A Heart That Never Dies available online (video)

A film about human rights defender Ales Bialiatski from the documentary series A Heart That Never Dies by filmmakers Erling Borgen of Norway and Tom Heinemann of Denmark is available online.

10.02.2016 Valiantsin Stefanovich meets with UK Foreign Office Political Director

Valiantsin Stefanovich, Deputy Chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" met yesterday with Simon Gass, Political Director at the British Foreign Office.

09.02.2016 Miklós Haraszti: “No changes in dismal human rights situation since presidential election” in Belarus

GENEVA (9 February 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Miklós Haraszti, today warned that opposition leaders, human rights activists, journalists, and many other citizens have been subjected to harassment, administrative procedures and fines since the October presidential election.

09.02.2016 Human rights activist asks Prosecutor's Office to check publication on government-run website for extremism

Tatsiana Reviaka, member of the Board of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, has sent an appeal to the Prosecutor’s Office of Mahilioŭ asking the officials to check a publication on the website vecherniy-mogilev.by, which she says may contain elements of extremism.

08.02.2016 Belarusian government sees no politics in Yury Rubtsou’s case

The Belarusian government has responded to a complaint submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee on behalf of former political prisoner Yury Rubtsou. The letter says that Rubtsou was not prosecuted for expressing his opinion, but for disobeying a lawful order from a police officer.