News on the topic: human rights defenders
06.12.2013 Barysau human rights defenders congratulate the local authorities on the Human Rights Day
On 5 December Barysau human rights defenders Maryna Statkevich sent congratulations on the Universal Day of Human Rights to the Barysau City Executive Committee, Barysau District Court and Barysau City Police Department.
04.12.2013 Hrodna: holding a picket costs more than 23 million rubles
On 4 December the Leninski District Court of Hrodna considered a complaint of the Hrodna human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau, Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Raman Yurhel against the prohibition of the picket they intended to hold on 10 October, the World Day Against the Death Penalty, by the Hrodna City Executive Committee.
04.12.2013 Mahiliou Regional Court dismissed the case against the newspaper “Volny Horad”
On 4 December in Mahiliou the judicial board on civil cases of the Mahiliou Regional Court considered the appeal of the publisher of the newspaper "Volny Horad" Uladzimir Kudrautsau.
03.12.2013 Andrei Paluda: “I choose life!”
The coordinator of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders against the death penalty in Belarus" Andrei Paluda visited Rome together with the well-known advocate of the world-wide abolition of the death penalty, Uzbek human rights activist Tamara Chikunova, to take part in the events dedicated to the problem of death penalty and human rights violations.
02.12.2013 It is still unknown who put the website of HRC “Viasna” on the black list
The appeals to the state agencies which form the list of banned sites have yielded no results. The Ministry of Communications, in particular, reported that it didn't possess such information as far as the website spring96.org was not registered in the national segment of the Internet.
02.12.2013 Brest authorities create obstacles to human rigths picket
According to the Ruling of the Council of Ministers № 207 of 2012, upon receipt of an application for holding a mass event the Executive Committee must send a copy of the registered application to the police, after which the executive committee must discuss with the police the actions of the latter during the event.
30.11.2013 Human rights activists welcome establishing of youth parliament in Salihorsk
In early November, many state-run media reported about Salihorsk’s joining a UNICEF international initiative called “Child Friendly Cities.” Local human rights activists welcome this idea and are willing to give full support to its implementation.
29.11.2013 Minsk City Court rejects Uladzimir Labkovich’s cassation appeal
The cassation appeal by member of the Board of the HRC "Viasna" Uladzimir Labkovich against a ruling by the Court of Minsk’s Savetski district of October 8, which punished the human rights defender by a fine of 3.9 million rubles, was considered by the Minsk City Court on November 19. The consideration of the complaint took place without the participation of Labkovich, as he only received the notification on November 23.
29.11.2013 Biaroza human rights defenders appeal picket ban to Brest Regional Court
Biaroza human rights defenders are appealing the ruling of the district court who sided with the executive committee in banning a rally that was planned for October 10. They sent their appeal to the Brest Regional Court.
28.11.2013 Baranavichy human rights defender appeals fine to Supreme Court Chairman
Human rights defender Siarhei Housha filed a complaint with Chairman of the Supreme Court Valiantsin Sukala to challenge a decision by the Court of Baranavichy and Baranavichy district of August 21, 2012 to fine him 1.5 mln rubles. The charges stemmed from a statement by head of Baranavichy district election commission Tatsiana Latyshava in which she claimed that the human rights defender insulted her and swore at the commission members.
27.11.2013 Belarusian authorities deny visa to Civil Rights Defenders’ Robert Hårdh
Robert Hårdh, Executive Director of the Swedish human rights organization Civil Rights Defenders, was denied entry to Belarus. The decision was taken on November 5. However, this became known only now, when the human rights defender posted on his Facebook account a photo of his passport stamped by the Belarusian embassy.
19.11.2013 Sweden’s Östgruppen launches project to campaign for freedom of assembly in Belarus
The Swedish human rights organization «Östgruppen» launched a web project entitled “To Dare - To Think – To Say” (“Våga, tycka, tala”). This is an interactive map, which shows the situation of freedom of assembly in Belarus, as well as the methods by which that right is violated, www.svaboda.org reports.
19.11.2013 Human rights defender Andrei Bandarenka released
Andrei Bandarenka, leader of the of the human rights institution “Platform Innovation”, was released today after serving five days of arrest.
16.11.2013 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders demands to release Andrei Bandarenka
The Observatory was informed of the arrest and sentencing of Mr. Andrei Bandarenka to five days of imprisonment. Mr. Bandarenka is the Director of the human rights organisation “Platforma”, which monitors conditions of detention in Belarus.
15.11.2013 Havel Prize nominees congratulate Ales Bialiatski
A letter of congratulation to Ales Bialiatski currently held in Babruisk penal colony came from the Hungarian-based Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC).
