The Human Rights Center 'Viasna'

The administration of Homel-based “Tourist” hotel has refused to provide premises for the screening of a documentary “Stalin’s Line. Homel Region” produced by local pro-democratic activists.

Hrodna Leninski District Court has dismissed appeals by local pro-democratic activists Yury Istomin, Vadzim Saranchukou and Uladzimir Khilmanovich in their lawsuit against the city’s executive committee.

Judge Mikhail Khoma of Minsk Leninski district Court has sentenced activist Ivan Amelchanka to 15 days of administrative arrest on hooliganism charges.

On 29 May Minsk Pershamaiski District Court is to open the hearing of a criminal case of former prisoner of conscience Vasil Parfiankou who is facing charges of violating preventive supervision restrictions.

FIDH, Viasna and People in Need invite you to the screening of ONE WORLD 2012 documentary “BELORUSSIAN DREAM” by Ekaterina Kibalchich with the presence of Taciana Reviaka from VIASNA and Alexandra KOULAEVA from FIDH to be held in Bruxelles at Rue Caroly 15, 1050 on 21 May as part of the sixth annual One World human rights documentary film festival.

“Persons who claim the right to perform alternative service are not draft evaders, but conscientious objectors who do not want to perform military service with weapons in their hands. They agree to larger service time,” said Yauhen Asiyeuski, coordinator of the campaign “For Alternative Civil Service”, at today’s press-conference in Minsk.

Hrodna city executive committee keeps violating the Mass Events Code by either denying local pro-democratic activists’ rights to stage pickets and meetings or failing to authorize the events in due time.

Youth activist Ivan Amelchanka was detained yesterday at Minsk Leninski District Police Department and later taken to a detention center in Akrestsin Street.
He is expected to stand administrative trial tomorrow morning.

A portrait of Ales Bialiatski, vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights and the head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, was installed in front of the Mayor’s office of the 11th arrondissement of Paris on Friday, 11 May. In this way the French capital expressed its support to the campaign aimed at the liberation of the Belarusian human rights.

During a court hearing at the Bykhau District Court Aliaksandr Shachanok noticed that his signature under a violation report was forged.

Minsk City Court left unchanged the verdict of the Kastrychnitski District Court of Minsk concerning the administrative case against Ruslan Nevar who refused from dactylography because of his religious views. The case was considered by Judge Siarhei Khrypach.

The international foundation for the protection of human rights defenders Front Line Defenders issued a protest statement concerning the unlawful travel ban to Aleh Hulak, Hary Pahaniaila and Valiantsin Stefanovich.

Hearings on a lawsuit of civil activists against Hrodna authorities have started at the Leninski District Court of Hrodna.

Activist of the "European Belarus" Alena Semenchukova was questioned about hanging out a white-red-white flag on the roof of the building of the medical university.

KGB officers undertook an unsuccessful attempt to recruit Aleh Nahorny with the assistance of the Zavadski District Police Department of Minsk.

Baranavichy entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus applied to the Brest Regional Court with the request to abolish the verdict of the verdict of the Baranavichy City Court, according to which the latter allegedly had no powers to consider the case concerning the illegality of the election of the Council of the local market, and returned the case for the second trial.

On 14 May the apartment rented by the "Young Front" activists Mikalai Dzemidzenka, Zmitser Kremianetski and Raman Vasiliieu was assaulted by the riot police. The activists were beaten, detained and taken away in an unknown direction.

The UN Human Rights Committee considered the appeal of Vitsebsk activist Siarhei Beyazeka against unlawful actions of the police and a court verdict for more than four years.

Riot police burst into an apartment rented by “Young Front” activists Mikola Dzemidzenka, Zmitser Kramianetski and Raman Vasiliieu. The youngsters were detained and taken away in unknown direction. The keys from the apartment were taken away as well.

The appropriate campaign was launched by the United Civil Party. Such pickets were banned in Babruisk, Barysau, Brest and Mahiliou. The organizers wanted to hold the actions in busy places in order to attract the attention of the population. However, they were usually answered that the pickets could be held only in the places that had been officially determined for such actions.