News on the topic: Viasna
27.11.2012 “Viasna”: central office and property confiscated
At 10 a.m. the office in Nezalezhnasts Street, 78a-48 in Minsk was attended by court marshals, policemen, a cameraman in plain clothes, representatives of public utilities and two witnesses.
26.11.2012 Statement by Human Rights Center “Viasna”
The imprisonment of the head of the organization, Ales Bialiatski, and confiscation of its office won't stop the activities of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”
24.11.2012 With the one year anniversary of the conviction of Ales Bialiatski, Human Rights Centre “Viasna” faces relentless harassment
Paris-Geneva, November 23, 2012 – One year after Ales Bialiatski’s conviction, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), remains gravely concerned about the arbitrary detention of the prominent human rights defender and the continuous harassment targeting members of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna” and other human rights defenders in the country.
22.11.2012 Viasna invites you!
At 10 a.m. November 26, the office and property of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” will be seized. The bailiffs are expected to seal up the doors of the NGO that has provided assistance to the repressed for 12 years, hosted press-conferences on key human rights issues and numerous human rights events. This is the authorities’ way to mark one year since the sentencing of Viasna’s leader Ales Bialiatski to 4.5 years of imprisonment on November 24, 2011.
19.11.2012 Valiantsin Stefanovich: "Viasna" will continue its work in all circumstances
It was reported on Saturday that the confiscation of the office of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" was scheduled for November 26. Human rights defenders stress that the news was not a surprise for the activists of the organization and they would continue their work in all circumstances.
27.09.2012 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders condemns ongoing harassment of "Viasna" Board member Tatsiana Reviaka
On September 18, 2012, Ms. Revyaka received a notification from the Tax Inspection of Minsk Pershamaiski District stating that she was “obliged to submit a declaration of income and property not later than October 3, 2012 for the period of 2004-2010, in pursuance of Article 12 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus 'On Declaration of Income and Property by Individuals'”. The Observatory strongly condemns this new act of harassment against Ms. Revyaka (see background information), which is part of a more general campaign of harassment against members of Viasna, since it seems to merely aim at impeding their legitimate human rights activities.
03.08.2012 Belarusian human rights defenders pass petition for release of Ales Bialiatski and all political prisoners to Presidential Administration
Representatives of democratic NGOs, civil activists and human rights defenders of Belarus paid a visit to the Presidential Administration to pass the petition demanding an immediate and unconditional release of Ales Bialiatski and all political prisoners and cessation of pressurization on human rights and civil society organizations of the country.
13.06.2012 International human rights organizations stress the nead of appointing a UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus
A number of human rights organizations (Human Rights Center “Viasna”, Belarusian Human Rights House, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Human Rights House Foundation, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International) adopted a special statement describing the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus and emphasizing the need of appointing a Special Rapporteur on Belarus at the UN.
12.06.2012 Minsk City Court refuses to punish Judge Siamak
In March the deputy head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Valiantsin Stefanovich was put on the list of the people who are temporary prohibited to travel abroad.
04.05.2012 “Viasna” writes contemporary history
The 16th anniversary of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” was marked by the presentation of two books: a photo album "For Right to Elect: Portraits of Convicts. Square-2010" and the book of interviews “Our Viasna. History in Faces".
26.04.2012 “Viasna” marks 16 years of activity
It was 16 years ago, when after a wave of brutal arrests during the traditional Chernobyl Way march a group of activists started collecting and disseminating information on the detainees, trying to give them financial support. This is how “Viasna-96” was founded, whose priority was providing assistance to the victims of political repressions and sharing information on these repressions.
12.04.2012 Stefanovich's complaints are still forwarded to Ministry of Defense
On 11 March the vice-head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Valiantsin Stefanovich was prevented from leaving for Lithuania. He was stopped by the Belarusian border guards at the crossing point "Kamenny Loh" and stated that he was prohibited to leave Belarus.
02.04.2012 General procuracy evades from reacting to appeal of blacklisted human rights activist
The General Procuracy forwarded the appeal of the deputy head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Valiantsin Stefanovich concerning unlawful foreign travel restrictions to the Ministry of Defense. The human rights defender was informed about it by a letter on 28 March.
30.03.2012 FIDH and Viasna joint statement on political persecution of Siarhei Kavalenka
On 24 February 2012, the Pervomaisk District Court in Vitebsk sentenced opposition activist Siarhei Kavalenka to two years and one month imprisonment, having found him guilty of evading serving a punishment of supervised release.
29.02.2012 Valiantsin Stefanovich ordered to pay 57 mln. within seven days
Valiantsin Stefanovich, deputy chair of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” has received copies of court rulings ordering to execute the decision by Minsk Partyzanski District Court of 16 December 2011.
