25.06.2013 Foreign Ministry says complaints considered by UN Human Rights Committee are groundless
Homel human rights defenders Leanid Sudalenka and Vasil Paliakou received a response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to an appeal of a group of individuals, whose rights were said to be violated by the state, as recognized by the UN Human Rights Committee.
25.06.2013 Berlin activists campaign for release of Belarusian political prisoners, abolition of death penalty
Activists of Amnesty International’s Berlin office arranged the screening of the first full-length movie about the December 19, 2010 events entitled “A Belarusian Dream.”
24.06.2013 Lawtrend and Viasna launch campaign of judicial monitoring
A number of human rights defenders representing the Human Rights Center “Viasna” and the Center for Legal Transformation “Lawtrend” conducted on 20 June monitoring of 11 administrative trials in the courts of Minsk Kastrychnitski and Leninski districts.
24.06.2013 Metropolitan Filaret: “We, Christians, cannot justify the death penalty”
The Minsk-based House of Mercy hosted a round table discussion on the subject of “Religion and the Death Penalty,” organized by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Belarusian government. The round table was attended by representatives of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, legislative and judicial authorities of the Republic of Belarus, delegates of the Council of Europe, diplomats and human rights defenders.
24.06.2013 Belarus Press Photo 2011 Appeal Dismissed
The judicial panel of the Hrodna regional court heard Julia Darashkevich, one of the organizers of the contest, and the lawyers Aliaksandr Birylau and Larysa Atamanchuk. Hearing the appeal took only half an hour.
24.06.2013 “Spy” trial: Haidukou’s mother gives evidence
Volha Haidukova said she was a witness for the defence at the trial against her son who is charged with “treason”.
24.06.2013 EU suspends entry ban against Makey
The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union on Monday suspended the EU’s entry ban against Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey.
21.06.2013 PACE invites Belarusian MPs to discuss death penalty
The Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is expected to discuss the situation in Belarus at a meeting scheduled for June 27, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Belarus service reports. Among others, Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), rapporteur on the situation in Belarus, will address the meeting.
21.06.2013 Entrepreneurs on strike in Pinsk
Entrepreneurs have started a wildcat strike in Pinsk.
21.06.2013 Hannes Swoboda: Compromise is inadmissible in the issue of the release of political prisoners
Steps towards the Belarusian authorities may only be taken after the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.
21.06.2013 Baranavichy activist appeals ban on Milavidy Festival
An activist of the civil campaign “Tell the Truth”, Viachaslau Bolbat, filed yesterday a complaint with the district court of Baranavichy and Baranavichy district to challenge the actions of the district executive committee, which, according to the activist, twice illegally banned an educational and cultural event entitled “Milavidy Festival – In Memory of the Kasiniery of 1863.”
21.06.2013 3 policemen face charges after “physical violence” report in Krychau
Three employees of Krychau district police department are suspected of using physical violence in the premises of the police station, the Volny Horad independent newspaper reports.
21.06.2013 “Spy case” is falling apart despite trial’s being secretive
The “spy case”, which KGB was so encouraged to lead against an operator of Navapolatsk’s Naftan Andrej Hajdukou, has come to an end, it seems. Another case will be there instead. Vakulchyk informed journalists about that on 19 June.
20.06.2013 Shchuchyn resident faces criminal charges under Art. 193.1
Aliaksei Shchadrou, a Catholic believer of the village of Aliaksandrauka, Shchuchyn district, is facing charges under Art. 193.1 of the Criminal Code (activities on behalf of an unregistered organization). The criminal case was initiated after Aliaksei Shchadrou opened an asylum for the homeless in his home village.
20.06.2013 Belarusian human rights defenders discuss Paleckis’s report in Brussels
The European Parliament hosted yesterday a meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights to discuss the human rights situation in Belarus, and draft recommendations on the European Union policy in respect of Belarus, based on a report by the MEP Justas Paleckis.
