News on the topic: human rights defenders
28.02.2011 Ales Bialiatski urges Prosecutor General to investigate torture reports
Ales Bialiatski, vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights and chair of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, has addressed Belarusian Prosecutor General Ryhor Vasilevich with a demand to investigate the alleged torture facts reported by former presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevich in his statement for the media on 28 February.
23.02.2011 Stefanovich demands consideration on the merits of his appeal
Human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich keeps appealing the illegal actions by the police during the search at Viasna’s office on 20 December, when his personal property was seized.
22.02.2011 Belarusian HR defenders submit additional data on harassment of advocates to UN Special Rapporteur on Independence of Judges and Lawyers
Belarusian human rights defenders have submitted additional information on harassment of lawyers to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Ms. Gabriela Knaul.
21.02.2011 Human rights defenders arrange payment of damage claim entered by Presidential Administration
On 21 February, Viasna’s deputy chair Valiantsin Stefanovich, leader of the Foundation for Legal Technologies Development Alena Tankachova and deputy chair of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Andrei Bastunets, acting on behalf of Belarusian citizens, paid the material damage, brought by the Presidential Administration against the defendants in the 19 December mass riot criminal case.
18.02.2011 Belarusian human rights defenders inform UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers about facts of pressure on lawyers
We, the undersigned human rights organizations of the Republic of Belarus and individual human rights defenders in personal capacity, would like to inform you about facts of pressure on lawyers by the executive authorities of Belarus, particularly, the withdrawal of licenses imposed on lawyers Uladzimir TOUSTSIK, Tamara HARAYEVA, Aleh AHEYEU and Tatsiana AHEYEVA, something threatening an access of their clients to an effective remedy and retarding the course of justice.
18.02.2011 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders urges the Belarusian authorities to repeal the warning issued against Mr. Ales Bialatski
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), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Belarus.
17.02.2011 We will not stop our activities: statement by Human Rights Center “Viasna” concerning a warning by General Prosecutor’s Office
On 16 February 2011, Ales Bialiatski, chair of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” and vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), received an official warning on the inadmissibility of lawbreaking signed by Deputy Prosecutor General Mr. Kuklis.
17.02.2011 Czech Helsinki Committee supports Belarusian civil society
“Czech Republic, as well as the European Union and the Council of Europe, should support the efforts of Belarusians, both in respect for human rights in Belarus and for the sake of Belarus as a social state, and a future democratic law-governed state”, says a letter signed by chair of Czech Helsinki Committee Anna Sabatova and received from Prague through the Belarusian Helsinki Committee.
16.02.2011 Valiantsin Stefanovich: “Counsels’ community is being gagged through the Ministry of Justice”
On 16 February reports began to appear that the Qualification Commission of the Ministry of Justice had initiated the revoking the licenses of a number of Belarusian lawyers – Iryna Khalip’s former counsels Uladzimir Toustsik and Tamara Harayeva, Ales Mikhalevich’s counsel Aleh Aheyeu, as well as the latter’s mother lawyer Ms. Tatsiana Aheyeva.
16.02.2011 General Prosecutor’s Office issues warning to Ales Bialiatski
Ales Bialiatski, chair of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” has been officially warned by the General Prosecutor’s Office of Belarus for alleged legislative violations committed by the human rights defender on behalf of “Viasna”.
15.02.2011 Nasta Loika spent 15 minutes at military counter-intelligence
After receiving many telephone calls from an investigator of the military counter-intelligence, human rights defender Nasta Loika agreed to come for a talk on 15 Febraury. Though the investigator said he would pass her an official writ after her coming to his office, he didn't keep his promise.
14.02.2011 Final HRD Monitoring Report on Presidential Election in Belarus
“Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” campaign presents its final monitoring report on the 2010 presidential election in Belarus. The report gives the campaign's overall conclusions on the election, provides comprehensive analysis of the voting and counting stages and includes recommendations on how the election process could be brought in line with international standards.
03.02.2011 The Council under the President of the Russian Federation for the Promotion of Civil Society and Human Rights made a statement about the situation in Belarus
February 1, 2011 President's Council of the Russian Federation for the Promotion of Civil Society and Human Rights made a statement about the situation in Belarus. In this statement, the members of the Presidential Council condemned human rights violations that were committed during and after December 19.
27.01.2011 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders urges Belarusian authorities to refrain from harassing human rights defenders
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), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Belarus.
27.01.2011 HR defender Stefanovich invited for conversation to KGB
Today, human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich was invited for a conversation to KGB Minsk office. The activist refused the meeting, since there was no summons.
