The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

17.02.2014 Court in Minsk to hear complaint against blacklisting spring96.org site

The Court of Minsk’s Tsentralny district will consider tomorrow morning a complaint filed by deputy chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Valiantsin Stefanovich to challenge a decision of the Prosecutor General’s Office to restrict access to the website spring96.org.

29.01.2014 “Relevant authorities” to decide on Ales Bialiatski’s book

On January 29, the Court of Ashmiany District held a preliminary hearing of human rights defender Tatsiana Reviaka’s lawsuit against local customs officials, who prohibited the importation of Ales Bialiatski’s book "Asvechanyia Belaruschunai" ("Enlightened by Belarusianness").

29.01.2014 Baranavichy trade union activist keeps appealing picket ban

A trade union activist Ryhor Hryk filed yesterday a complaint to Baranavichy Inter-District Prosecutor's Office to challenge the illegal actions of the city’s executive authorities who banned a rally under the slogan “Civilian Control for Actions of the Authorities and the Laws of Belarus”. The picket was expected to be staged on January 26. The activist stresses he met all the requirements of the law on mass events.

29.01.2014 Judge in Babruisk denies elderly women’s right to legal assistance

On January 27, Judge Maryna Sheliahina of Babruisk District and City Court did not allow the presence at a trial of a representative of two local women, Valiantsina Kavalenka and Liubou Sankevich.

28.01.2014 Mahiliou activist appeals penalty for campaigning against Russian air bases

Yury Novikau, Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Free Trade Union filed a supervisory appeal to the Chairman of the Mahiliou Regional Court.

27.01.2014 Arbitrary detention legal, says Prosecutor's Office

The detention of activist Iliya Dabratvor was legal, says a reply from Minsk Frunzenski District Prosecutor's Office.

27.01.2014 Results of examination of seized book about Lukashenka still unknown

It has been four months now since a resident of Salihorsk Aliaksandr Malochka requested the results of a customs examination of the book entitled "Aliaksandr Lukashenka. A Political Portrait" seized from him on September 14, 2013 at the Lithuanian border.

27.01.2014 Homel Regional Court justifies assault on UCP activist

On January 24, a UCP activist of Kalinkavichy Dzianis Rabianok received a copy of ruling by the Homel Regional Court, saying that the young man’s appeal was turned down, thereby justifying a tear gas attack he suffered back in April 2013.

24.01.2014 UN Human Rights Committee to consider complaint against ban on picket in support of Ales Bialiatski

A letter received on January 23 by the former chair of Homel City Executive Committee Sviatlana Haldade says the UN Human Rights Committee has registered the complaint, which she, together with Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka, filed in connection with a ban on a rally in support of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski expected to be staged on August 4, 2012.

23.01.2014 Brest City Council members ignore voters’ appeals

Activists of the civil initiative "Social Office" in Brest have not received a response from the head of the City Council of Deputies, Henadz Masko, despite the fact that the law provides for a 15-day period for answering a request.

23.01.2014 Critical doctor files defamation suit

Vitsebsk doctor Ihar Pastnou believes that the city’s Kastrychnitski district administration insulted him by banning a picket against police lawlessness. He says that he wants to recover from the officials three thousand Euros in damages, and if he wins in court he promises to give the money to a local orphanage.

20.01.2014 Hrodna Regional Court confirms picket ban

On January 20, Hrodna Regional Court considered an appeal lodged by local human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau, Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Raman Yurhel to challenge a decision of Leninski District Court. The latter recognized legality of the executive committee’s refusal to hold a picket to inform about the situation with the death penalty in Belarus on October 10, 2013.

20.01.2014 Judge hears appeals against self: result is predictable

A resident of Mahiliou, Vasil Lipski, is appealing a number of decisions issued by First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court. The activist sent his complaint to the Court’s Chairman Valiantsin Sukala.

28.12.2013 Petition by human rights defender makes Brest city executive committee amend restrictions on street events

On December 10, human rights defender Uladzimir Vialichkin addressed Brest city executive committee with a request to eliminate the contradictions contained in the legal acts regulating the procedure for the organization of public events. The petition was caused by the circumstances of preparing a picket dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.