The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

04.02.2013 Vitsebskers continue complaining to UN Human Rights Committee

The United Nations Human Rights Committee registered a complaint of the Vitsebsk coordinator of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Tatsiana Seviarynets. The reason for the appeal to the HRC became the verdict of the Kastrychnitski District Court of Vitsebsk, issued 1.5 years ago, according to which she had been found guilty of violating the law on mass events and sentenced to a fine.

01.02.2013 Biaroza and Pruzhany activists commemorate executed participants of the national liberation uprising of Kastus Kalinouski (photo)

Civil activists from Biaroza and Pruzhany proceeded by the road of death of Kastus Kalinouski's insurgents. This is the 3-kilometer road from the village of Sharashava to the village of Kupichy, where Muravyov's hangmen executed insurgents in 1863.

01.02.2013 "Solidarity chain" continued by Minsk activists

The Minsk democratic activists Aleh Lisitski and Ihar Mazheika held a photo action in support of the Hrodna human rights defenders Uladzimir Khilmanovich, Viktar Sazonau and Raman Yurhel and the Navapolatsk activists Siarhei Malashenkau and Yauhen Parchynski.

01.02.2013 Baranavichy: Mikalai Charnavus intends to hold rally against increase of business tax

The Baranavichy entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus applied to the Baranavichy City Executive Committee to receive an official permission for holding a rally against the increase of the tax on business on 12 February.

29.01.2013 Viasna activists express solidarity with Hrodna colleagues

Representatives of the central office of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” have held an action of solidarity with Hrodna human rights defenders – Viasna members Viktar Sazonau, Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Belarusian Helsinki Committee activist Raman Yurhel – to express their support ahead of today’s consideration of an appeal against an absurd ruling by Hrodna Leninski District Court.

28.01.2013 Mahiliou court upholds picket ban

The Court of Mahiliou Leninski District dismissed today a lawsuit brought by Uladzimir Shantsau, local leader of the United Civil Party, to challenge a ban on holding a picket imposed by the city executive committee.

24.01.2013 Opposition activist in Homyel receives anonymous threats for displaying white-red-white flag over his house

Opposition activist Kanstantsin Zhukowski on Wednesday received anonymous threats for displaying Belarus' historically national white-red-white flag over his house in Homyel.

22.01.2013 They forgot to invite Liabedzka to the court

The UCP’s leader Anatol Liabedzka was fined to participating in an unauthorized picketing.

17.01.2013 Navapolatsk authorities use all means to ban pickets

The pro-democratic activists of the town of Navapolatsk have for three times now applied for staging a picket of solidarity with political prisoners, as well as against the impoverishment of the Belarusian population under current economic policies. Their bids were rejected three times, including due to lack of contract for police maintenance of the events...

16.01.2013 Navapolatsk police also trace solidarity actions through Internet

The Navapolatsk activist Yauhen Parchynski was summonsed to the police for photos with portraits of Bialiatski at the entrance of the Navapolatsk City Court. Another participant of the action, Siarhei Malashonak, says he is ready to any development of the events, including a trial and a fine.

16.01.2013 Human rights defenders appeal fines at Hrodna Region Court

The Hrodna human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau, Raman Yurhel and Uladzimir Khilmanovich, each of whom has been fined 1.5 million rubles for holding an "unauthorized picket" on 10 December, applied to the Hrodna Region Court.

14.01.2013 Solidarity action with Bialiatski in Salihorsk (photo)

Last weekend the civil activists from Salihorsk expressed their solidarity with the imprisoned human rights defender Ales Bialiatski. The action was initiated by the local representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the editorial office of the saligorsk.org website.

11.01.2013 Mahiliou KGB reluctant to discriminate in the case of "Slavonic March" organization

The decision to authorize the "Slavonic March" is beyond our competence – this is the answer received by the deputy head of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) Ihar Barysau from the deputy head of the Mahiliou Region KGB Bureau Savienka.

10.01.2013 Solidarity with Hrodna human rights defenders transcends state borders

Ukrainian human rights defenders declared an Internet action in support of the members of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Viktar Sazonau and the member of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Raman Yurhel who had been fined for publishing a photo of themselves with a portrait of the political prisoner Ales Bialiatski on the web.

10.01.2013 Svislach case: "regional court maintains the "rigid course"

The Hrodna Region Court issued a predictably negative ruling on the cassation appeal of the civil activist from Biaroza Siarhei Trafimchyk. The activist tried to appeal the verdict of the judge of the Svislach District Court Zhanna Salahubik of 13 December 2012, according to which he was sentenced to a fine of 800,000 rubles for participation in an action in the memory of the anti-Russian uprising of 1863-1864.