The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

26.11.2014 Court in Hrodna fines activists over memorial picket

On November 25, a court in Hrodna heard the administrative cases of four people who attended the traditional action in memory of the 1863 anti-Russian uprising in the town of Svislach on October 26. Judge Alena Piatrova fined journalist and human rights activist Uladzimir Khilmanovich and United Civil Party activist Jerzy Grygencha 5.25 million rubles each, and Radio Liberty journalist Mikhail Karnevich and UCP activist Vital Lopasau 2.25 mln each on charges of participating in an unsanctioned event.

26.11.2014 Former political prisoner Andrei Haidukou sentenced to 10 days in jail

On November 25, Judge Uladzimir Biasetski of the Polatsk City Court found former political prisoner Andrei Haidukou guilty of violating Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code and sentenced him to 10 days of arrest for “holding an unauthorized picket with the distribution of leaflets”.

25.11.2014 Conservative Christian Party deputy chair to stand trial over memorial rally

Another administrative trial of deputy chairman of the Conservative Christian Party BPF, Yuras Belenki, will be held on November 28 in the Leninski District Court of Minsk.

25.11.2014 Police detain wheelchair user during banned picket in Svetlahorsk

Civil society activist Yury Liashenka was detained this afternoon in Svetlahorsk. The city authorities did not allow the wheelchair user to stage a picket at the city’s central square. The activist intended to protest against failure to meet the rights of persons with disabilities during the renovation of a residential building in Lenin Street. As a result, the desperate activist decided to hold an unsanctioned rally.

25.11.2014 Vitsebsk activists complain against administrative charges

Opposition activist Tatsiana Seviarynets and Alena Shabunyi have written a statement to the police department and the city Prosecutor’s Office against a police officer of the Chyhunachny district police department who charged them with alleged participation in an unsanctioned rally. Both ladies insist that they were simply photographed against the backdrop of one of the city’s buildings.

24.11.2014 Human rights activist Uladzimir Khilmanovich to stand trial for honoring anti-Russian rebels

Participants in the traditional action in memory of the insurgents of the 1863 anti-Russian uprising, which was held in the town of Svislach on October 26, are still facing administrative charges of involvement in an unauthorized event.

24.11.2014 Minsk court turns down appeal against picket ban

On November 21, the court of the Maskouski district of Minsk considered an appeal against a decision of the Minsk City Executive Committee, which banned a picket of solidarity with Ukraine citing obviously far-fetched reasons, the press service of the Committee “Solidarity” reports.

21.11.2014 Svetlahorsk officials ban picket on rights of persons with disabilities

Civil society activists Yury Liashenka was not allowed to hold a picket, which was scheduled for November 22 at the central square of Svetlahorsk. The activist intended to raise public awareness and to protest against discrimination against persons with disabilities during the renovation of a residential building in Lenin Street.

21.11.2014 Babruisk: Picketing location busy for indefinite period

Members of the UCP’s Babruisk office petitioned the city authorities asking for permission to hold between 20 and 24 November a series of pickets against the deployment of a Russian military base. The activists believe that the appearance of the base is contrary to Article 18 of the Constitution.

21.11.2014 Activist awaits trial for memorial action in Svislach

Aliaksandr Mekh, activist of the Belarusian Popular Front, visited today the Kobryn district police department. The visit dealt with the case of participation in an unsanctioned rally in the town of Svislach on October 26. In reality, it was a traditional action in memory of the rebels of the 1863-1864 anti-Russian uprising, which is held annually in Svislach, Hrodna region. Participants of the event visit the grave of Viktar Kalinouski, brother of the uprising leader Kastus Kalinouski, laying flowers at places connected with the uprising.

21.11.2014 UN Human Rights Committee rules in favor of Homel activist

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has found numerous violations of the right to disseminate information against a United Civil Party activist from Homel Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh. The Committee recommends the Belarusian authorities to restore the activist’s rights, to compensate for all the costs incurred, as well as to change the law “On Mass Events”.

20.11.2014 Three more trials expected over photos in Vitsebsk

According to the Vitsebsk police, there were seven participants in an unsanctioned rally – these were the persons whom the police somehow could identify in the photographs. A human rights activist, three journalists, two civil society activists and an unidentified passerby who liked the idea of being photographed near the closed house of culture.

20.11.2014 Another activist faces charges over unsanctioned rally in Svislach

On November 18, Anton Mekh, 17, son of activist Aliaksandr Mekh from Kobryn, received a summons from a police officer, saying that he would have to visit the police department over an unauthorized rally in Svislach.

14.11.2014 Participants of commemoration of rebels in Svislach are summonsed to police

On November 13, the head of Hrodna regional branch of the United Civil Party Aliaksandra Vasilevich received a telephone call from a police inspector, who invited her to come for giving explanations.