The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

16.05.2016 Activist in Maladziečna sentenced to 7 days in jail over green protest

Pavel Siarhei has been sentenced to 7 days of administrative arrest for being involved in a protest against the construction of a major pig farm in the town of Maladziečna, Minsk region, according to local human rights activist Ales Kaputsky.

11.05.2016 Activist held in ‘cycling case’ faces formal charges

Dzmitry Paliyenka, an activist detained after the brutal dispersal of the Critical Mass cycling event on April 29, has been officially charged with using violence against a police officer (Article 364 of the Criminal Code). He has also been transferred to the detention center in Žodzina.

06.05.2016 Statement on detention of Dzmitry Paliyenka

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" believes that the detention of civil society activist Dzmitry Paliyenka is a disproportionate measure applied as part of his prosecution over involvement in the events of April 29.

03.05.2016 One detainee in ‘cyclists’ case’ released, another still in custody

Stas Kanavalau, who was detained during a brutal dispersal of the Critical Mass cycling event on April 29, has been released from the detention facility. He has not faced formal charges yet, but was forced to sign a commitment to appear for interrogations as part of a criminal case opened following the incident.

30.04.2016 Report on monitoring the Critical Mass cycling event on 29 April 2016

A traditional cycling event ‘Critical mass’, taking place on last Friday of every month, was held on 29 April 2016.

27.04.2016 Opposition activists, environmentalists stage anti-nuclear protest in Minsk

Opposition activists protested the on-going construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus during the annual “Charnobylski Shlyakh” (Path of Chernobyl) demonstration staged Tuesday in Minsk on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

27.04.2016 Belarusian Activist Fined Over Anti-Russia Protest

A court in Minsk has fined a Belarusian activist for participating in an anti-Russia rally.

27.04.2016 Animal rights activists face fresh charges

Several activists of the Ekalahičny Pošuh and the Cost of Living initiatives have been charged with illegal picketing for staging a protest in defense of animals near the State Circus building in Minsk. On April 25, six of them were summoned to the police department of Minsk’s Partyzanski district. The date of a court hearing has not yet been set.

15.04.2016 Activist charged over animal rights protest

Civil society activist Pavel Siarhei has received a letter saying that he is charged with staging an illegal picket at the Kamaroŭski market in Minsk (an offense under Art. 23.34 of the Administrative Code).

08.04.2016 Minsk courts fine more peaceful protesters

The Centraĺny District Court of Minsk heard yesterday 16 administrative cases against the participants of a picket staged near the Russian embassy in support of Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko on March 21, as well as those involved in the Freedom Day demonstration on March 25.

04.04.2016 11 activists charged over anti-Russian protest

Eleven people have been charged with illegal picketing for staging a protest outside the Russian embassy in Minsk on April 2. The picket was expected to highlight Russia’s imperial policies on so-called Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia.

04.04.2016 Viasna urges authorities to stop persecution of citizens for exercising freedom of peaceful assembly and expression

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" is ready to provide recommendations and proposals to the government bodies possessing the right of legislative initiative.

25.03.2016 Activists fined over vendors’ protests

The Court of Minsk’s Centraĺny district heard yesterday the cases of 17 opposition activists charged with joining a series of protests staged by entrepreneurs in Minsk in late February and early March.

22.03.2016 Activists charged over picket in support of Nadiya Savchenko

At least twelve people have been charged with participating in a picket staged last afternoon outside the Russian Embassy to express support for the Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who is facing politically-motivated charges in Russia.