The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

08.07.2016 Political prisoner Zhamchuzhny reports harassment in prison

Political prisoner Mikhail Zhamchuzhny is facing severe harassment ‘on all fronts’ in penal colony No. 14 near Barysaŭ, according to his recent letters.

28.06.2016 Human rights defenders insist on independent analysis in Eduard Palchys case

Viasna activists do not rule out a political motive in the persecution of critical blogger Eduard Palchys, but stress that an unbiased examination of his texts should be carried out, Valiantsin Stefanovich said in his comment for naviny.by.

27.06.2016 Amnesty International calls to annul preventive supervision imposed on Pavel Vinahradau

Amnesty International has condemned the arbitrary penalty against Pavel Vinahradau, who was sentenced to six months of “preventive supervision” on 7 June 2016, on the basis of his participation in peaceful, but unauthorized protests.

14.06.2016 Viasna demands respect for procedural rights of Eduard Palchys

Viasna demands respect for all the procedural safeguards and rights in relation to Eduard Palchys, who is currently held in custody in the detention center in Žodzina. In particular, he should be allowed to see his lawyer and be provided with appropriate conditions of detention and treatment.

03.06.2016 Viasna demands to stop political persecution of activist Pavel Vinahradau

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" urges the authorities to immediately stop the proceedings aimed at establishing preventive supervision against Pavel Vinahradau.

03.06.2016 Pavel Vinahradau facing another preventive supervision

Police may bring back preventive supervision over the activist Pavel Vinahradau. the supervision was introduced after his release and canceled a year ago. Incidentally, during the surveillance period, Pavel was forced to leave Minsk for Berazino.

17.05.2016 Reporter Gets Moral Damage Compensation for Unlawful Imprisonment in KGB

In 2012, a reporter and then a student of journalism department Anton Surapin spent a month in the KGB detention center for allegedly aiding the teddy bear air drop team.

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.

13.04.2016 Citizen Sentenced to Forced Medical Treatment for Insult of President and Judges

On April 12, the Frunzenski district court of Minsk found Aliaksandr Lapitski guilty according to articles 368, 369 and 361 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (public insult against the president, public officials and judges while performing professional duties).

13.04.2016 Viasna calls to repeal criminal defamation

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" insists on the decriminalization of acts committed by Aliaksandr Lapitski, and calls for the termination of criminal prosecution for defamation offenses, considering as a first step the abolition of Articles 367, 368, 369, 369-1, 391 of the Criminal Code.

24.03.2016 Investigators unable to identify persons who broke activist’s jaw

Viachaslau Kasinerau, one of the defendants in so called ‘graffiti case’, who sought criminal prosecution of persons who beat him severely during his detention on August 11 last year, has been notified the Investigative Committee’s Maskoŭski office suspended the preliminary investigation.

18.03.2016 Activists lose appeal in ‘graffiti case’

The Minsk City Court dismissed today an appeal by three defendants in the so called ‘graffiti case’, Maksim Piakarski, Vadzim Zharomski and Viachaslau Kasinerau, who were sentenced to heavy fines on January 29.