News on the topic: human rights defenders
11.10.2013 Biaroza human rights defenders mark the World Day against the Death Penalty
Despite the picket ban, the human rights defenders held a meeting with the local citizens in order to discuss the abolition of the death penalty in Belarus. The meeting participants watched the documentary: “Death penalty: a way to the past".
11.10.2013 Zhodzina: informational actions against the death penalty
On 10 October, the World Day against the Death Penalty the Zhodzina human rights defenders held a number of memorable actions instead of the picket which they indendedto hold near the Barysau Culture Park and which was banned by the authorities.
11.10.2013 Tatsiana Reviaka speaks about the situation of human rights defenders at the 7th Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders
Ms. Reviaka spoke at the 7th Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders at the penal dedicated to testimonies of human rights activists about hte conditions of work around the world.
10.10.2013 Individual communication of the death convict Pavel Seliun registered at the UN
This was reported on 10 October by the coordinator of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty in Belarus Andrei Poluda, the trustee of the convict.
10.10.2013 Another picket banned by Biaroza District Executive Committee
This year, the first ban has been received by the local human rights defenders when applied for the authorization of a picket on 4 August in support of Ales Bialiatski and other political prisoners. The denial was signed by the deputy chairman of the Biaroza District Executive Committee Yauhen Tarasiuk.
09.10.2013 Constitutional Court upholds the proposal of the Baranavichy human rights defender
The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus supported the Baranavichy human rights activist Siarhei Housha. This was stated in a letter signed by the head of the secretariat A. Karavai, which the activist received by mail on 8 October.
09.10.2013 Tatsiana Reviaka takes part in 7th Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders at Risk
The 7th Platform, gathering participants from all over the world, started in the Irish capital on 9 October. Belarus is represented by the journalist Iryna Khalip, the coordinator of the Office on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Siarhei Drazdouski and a member of the Council of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” and the President of the Belarusian Human Rights House in Vilnius Tatsiana Reviaka.
09.10.2013 Hrodna human rights defenders remind about the Universal Day against the Death Penalty
Hrodna human rights defenders Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Aliaksandra Vasilevich reminded Hrodna residents about the issue of the death penalty on the eve of the World Day against the Death Penalty, by going to a mass skating. There they skated in T-shirts with the slogan “Say NO to the Death Penalty!”
08.10.2013 Freedom House considers Belaus to be a country with non-free Internet
The human rights organization “Freedom House” referred Belarus to the group of countries with non-free Internet.
08.10.2013 Human rights defender Uladzimir Labkovich punished with a fine on the fourth attempt
On 8 October the administrative case of the member of the Council of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Uladzimir Labkovich was finally reviewed by the Savetski District Court of Minsk.
07.10.2013 Human rights defender Uladzimir Malei dedicated his marathon to Ales Bialiatski (photos)
Malaryta human rights defender Uladzimir Malei dedicated a ten-kilometer marathon to the freedom of the head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski. He came to the 30th jubilee marathon which took place in Malaryta wearing a T-shirt with a portrait of Ales Bialiatski and the inscription “Freedom to Bialiatski!” Uladzimir Malei took the third prize place in his age group.
07.10.2013 Trial on Labkovich's case postponed again
On 7 October at the Savetski District Court of Minsk the member of the Council of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Uladzimir Labkovich was informed that the trial would take place tomorrow and start at 9 a.m. This is already the fourth postponement of the trial.
06.10.2013 Hrodna City Executive Committee issues a “cynic” picket ban
Hrodna City Executive Committee once again prohibited the human rights defenders Uladzimir Khilmanovich, Raman Yurhel and Viktar Sazonau to hold an informational picket. The activists intended to hold a picket against the death penalty on 10 October, the World Day against the Death Penalty, and inform the citizens about this issue.
30.09.2013 Police officer does not want to testify in Uladzimir Labkovich’s case
A police officer who detained human rights defenders Uladzimir Labkovich and Tatsiana Reviaka during an action of solidarity with political prisoner Ales Bialiatski held in Minsk once again failed to appear at the court hearing.
30.09.2013 Homel: new mass events rules – old problems for organizers
In early September, a new decision of Homel city executive committee on mass events came into force. The authorities say that it is meant to “expand the list of places for public events, as well as to improve the interaction between the organizers of public events and local authorities.” However, although the number of locations has increased (two sites instead of one), they are located in places that will make potential participants in the pickets or rallies hire a vehicle to travel to the locations.
