The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

13.12.2011 Zmitser Dashkevich to be kept in solitary confinement till April

Human rights defender Anastasiya Loika voiced this information to RFE/RL with reference to Zmitser Dashkevich. “He has been kept in a one-man cell in the Hlybokaye colony for three months already. He had been repeatedly put into penal cells in the previous prisoners. Human rights defenders are concerned with threats to his life and health and demand that the authorities immediately stop all provocations against him and provide him with adequate life conditions,” commented Anastasiya Loika.

13.12.2011 Mikalai Autukhovich placed in prison cell

As we have learned today, the administration of the Ivatsevichy penal colony where political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich is serving his term has placed him into a prison cell for one month. Though the formal reasons remain unknown, we consider it as a continuation of the ongoing pressurization of political prisoners for their principled civil position.

13.12.2011 Belarusian State TV continues denigration of Dashkevich and Sannikau

An activist of human rights organization “Platform” Yury Chyhileichyk was shown in a program on the Belarusian state TV. He tells that Sannikau had problems in the colony because of Dashkevich. And a BT worker (an off-screen voice) has gone go to even greater lengths and expanded that idea, “Nasha Niva” writes.

13.12.2011 Niakliayeu and Palazhanka face imprisonment

Former presidential candidate Uladzimir Niakliaeu and deputy chairperson of the “Young Front” Anastasiya Palazhanka, given two and one year of suspended sentence respectively, have been issued the last warning.

09.12.2011 Sannikau's counsel banned from meeting his client again

The lawyer planned to visit the presidential candidate on 8 December.

08.12.2011 Why are letters to Statkevich destroyed in penal colony in Shklou?

Leanid Haravy, an activist of the human rights and educational movement “For Freedom!” is looking of an answer to this question. As it follows from the official answer of the head of Shklou penal colony #17, his letter to former presidential candidate, political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich, was destroyed. However, the colony administration didn’t offer any explanations for this action.

08.12.2011 Anastasiya Palazhanka is asked about her place of residence

Anatasiya Palazhanka, the “Young Front” deputy head, visited the penal office of the Pershamaiski district police department of Minsk on 6 December. She was not issued with a warning, but police asked if her place of residence changed, “Belorusski Partizan” learned from Anastasia’s friends.

07.12.2011 Warning issued to Uladzimir Niakliayeu

The prosecutor’s office of Leninski district of Minsk has issued an official warning to the presidential candidate Uladzimir Niakliayeu.

07.12.2011 Participants of OSCE Ministerial Council call Belarus to release political prisoners

Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal called upon the Belarusian authorities to stop persecuting civil society activists and release all political prisoners, Euroradio reports.

06.12.2011 Brest activists appeal against picket bans

Brest-based civil activists filed with the Brest Region Court an appeal against the refusal of the authorities to authorize pickets in support of political prisoners.

06.12.2011 Parcel for political prisoner Dashkevich returned to sender

Civil activist Anzhela Kambalava, head of the Baranavichy city branch of the United Civil Party, maintains written correspondence with many political prisoners who have been convicted in connection with the protest action of 19 December 2010.

06.12.2011 UN Committee against Torture insists on investigation of tortures in Belarus

The UN Committee against Torture has released recommendations for the Belarusian authorities after discussing the situation in Belarus in Geneva on 11 and 14 November. Two reports, an official governmental one on Belarus’s fulfilling the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the other one prepared by human rights activists. Following the two hearings, the Committee drew up recommendations for the authorities of Belarus, BelaPAN news agency reports.

05.12.2011 Minsk City Court upholds annulment of Aleh Aheyeu's license

On 28 November 2011 the civil cases panel of judges of the Minsk City Court, consisting of N. Zhupikava, A.Antonenka and I. Lazavikova considered the administrative lawsuit of counsel Aleh Aheyeu against the unlawful annulment of his lawyer's license by the Ministry of Justice.