UN Human Rights Committee registers complaint by Hrodna human rights activist

Human rights defender Uladzimir Khilmanovich has received a written notification from the United Nations Human Rights Committee saying that his complaint has been registered and taken into consideration. The case concerns an incident of 2013, when the activist was fined for a photo with a portrait of Ales Bialiatski.

In January 2013, Judge Vital Liatsko of Hrodna’s Lieninski District Court fined Viktar Sazonau, Raman Yurhel and Uladzimir Khilmanovich on charges of holding an unsanctioned picket. On Human Rights Day, 10 December 2012, the activists were photographed with portraits of Ales Bialiatski. The photos were later posted online. This was viewed as an unauthorized event and an administrative case was opened. Uladzimir Khilmanovich was accused of “being in the company of people who were holding portraits of convict Ales Bialiatski and wearing a T-shirt with his picture and the inscription “Freedom for Ales Bialiatski”.”

All appeals have been rejected at the national level, and the activists sent a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee.