News on the topic: Viasna
29.06.2009 Vitsebsk: poetess demands 7 million rubles from human rights defender Leanid Svetsik
Tamara Krasnova-Husachenka has filed a lawsuit with Vitsebsk oblast court where the legal proceedings concerning the human rights defender Leanid Svetsik still continue. She demands from him 7 million rubles in alleged damages to her health.
25.06.2009 Ales Bialiatski: PACE’s requirements are an additional stimulus for Viasna’s members to continue their activities
In its recent resolution on the situation in Belarus, PACE called upon the Belarusian authorities to allow registration to the Nasha Viasna human rights organization, which is one of the essential conditions for the country to meet the Council of Europe standards. According to Ales Bialiatski, the requirement is an additional stimulus for Viana’s members to continue their activities.
23.06.2009 Viasna’s Brest office to strive for registration in court
On 22 June the founders of the Berastseyskaya Viasna human rights NGO lodged a complaint with Brest regional court against the decision by the city authorities of 4 June to deny registration to the organization. The main reason for the decision was the withdrawal of a letter of guarantee for the allocation of a legal address by its owner. In reality, the proprietor of the premises was threatened by the city authorities.
16.06.2009 Nasha Viasna to appeal decision by Ministry of Justice
On 16 January the co-founders of the Nasha Viasna human right association Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich and Uladzimir Labkovich have lodged a complaint with the Supreme Court of Belarus against the decision by the Ministry of Justice to deny registration to the NGO. The complaint stresses that the decision was not legal; the arguments of the Ministry were discriminatory – they violate the rights and the legitimate interests of Nasha Viasna’s founders.
12.06.2009 Observatory for Protection of Human Rights Defenders urges Belarusian authorities to re-register 'Viasna' and stop harassment of human rights defeners
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
11.06.2009 Trial of Leanid Svetsik: victims demand the case be dropped
The judge of Vitsebsk oblast court Halina Urbanovich announced a break after the petition of the defendant Leanid Svetsik for cessation of legal persecution and dropping the criminal case against him. The human rights defender said that he could not understand what he was accused in and considered himself innocent.
11.06.2009 Valiantsin Stefanovich: ‘This trial is an attempt to discredit human rights movement’
The first day of the trial of Leanid Svetsik started with the ejection of the independent journalists who had covered the appearance of anonymous threat letters on behalf of ‘Vitsebsk branch of the Russian National Unity’ in which Svetsik is accused.
10.06.2009 Trial of human rights defender Leanid Svetsik: new surprises
On 10 June Vitsebsk oblast court considered the criminal case against Leanid Svetsik. The trial started at 10 a.m. with an unexpected incident. An unknown youngster unfurled the protest ‘KGB – fascists’ and explained that in such a way he wanted to express his protest against the fabrication of the criminal case against Mr. Svetsik by the local KGB department. After showing the poster he left the court hall.
05.06.2009 Human rights organization ‘Brest Viasna’ is denied registration as well
Brest oblast executive committee again refused to register the human rights organization Brest Viasna.
04.06.2009 Human rights defenders cannot be prohibited to implement their duties
On 3June in Minsk there was held the joint press-conference of the founders of the CHRA Nasha Viasna and the Assembly of Pro-democratic NGOs dedicated to non-registration of both associations by the Ministry of Justice.
03.06.2009 Systematic registration denials to ‘Nasha Viasna’ witness about the non-readiness of the Belarusian authorities to democratic transformations in the country
On 25 May 2009 the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus ruled to deny the state registration to the civil human rights association Nasha Viasna.
28.05.2009 Ministry of Justice denies registration to Nasha Viasna again
On 28 May the co-founders of the Nasha Viasna human rights association received a letter from the Ministry of Justice saying the NGO is once again denied registration. The human rights activists think the decision groundless and illegal. The official letter signed by Vice-Minister of Justice A.Bodak named the following facts as the grounds for the refusal: - ‘many of the co-founders of the association have been prosecuted by law, for offences connected with disturbing public order, as well the freedoms and rights of other persons.’ - ‘the list of the co-founders of the association features certain false or distorted data.’ - ‘the second part of the association’s name ‘Nasha Viasna’ does not correspond to the Charter of the organization.’ The Ministry of Justice also accuses Nasha Viasna of ‘obstructing’ the registration body’s inspection of the accuracy of the application documents.
26.05.2009 Nasha Viasna still awaiting reply from Ministry of Justice
May 25th was the deadline for the Ministry of Justice to reply to the application of the Nasha Viasna human rights organization. However, Nasha Viasna’s registration is still undecided. This is Nasha Viasna’s third attempt to obtain the official status. The human rights have repeatedly stressed this would be their last application, even in case it is not satisfied.
29.04.2009 Front Line issues statement on refusal to register human rights organisation Nasha Viasna
Front Line is concerned by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus, on 22 April 2009, to maintain the previous decision of the Ministry of Justice not to register the human rights organisation Nasha Viasna (Our spring). Nasha Viasna is the new name of the human rights centre previously known as Viasna (Spring), which was closed down by the Supreme Court following the demand of the Ministry of Justice on 28 November 2003. The human rights center Viasna is one of the most active Belarusian human rights organisations, specialising in particular in the defence, protection and promotion of political and social rights.
24.04.2009 Nasha Viasna to apply for registration for the last time
On 25 April the founders of the Nasha Viasna human rights organization are going to apply to the Ministry of Justice for registration for a third time. At the same time, they stress that this attempt will be the last, even in case the application is turned down again. ‘If the state represented by the Ministry of Justice is not ready, does not want or cannot register human rights NGOs, it will be a problem for the state itself. We can perform human rights activities without official registration. It is our legal right, guaranteed by the Constitution and the international human rights standards,’ said the human rights activist and one of Nasha Viasna’s co-founders Valiantsin Stefanovich.
