Połack trade union activists have filed a complaint to Viciebsk court on a prejudiced decision of Połack judges Julija Kałasoŭskaja and Vital Łapko. The processing on the complaints will be held on June 15 in Viciebsk.
Trade union leaders are asking Viciebsk court to call off the fines (5 million and 6 million Belarusian rubles) and to stop the case for lack of offense. Continue reading »
Below is a summary and 28 minutes of video (Rus.) Continue reading »
Administrative punishments for exercising right to peaceful assembly and expression of opinion in Belarus continues. Continue reading »
It’s very complicated… when oligarchs or the modern “kings” in power believe that only they have exclusive rights for Human Rights.
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According to the website eurobelarus.info, head of the Center for Legal Transformation Lawtrend Alena Tankachovais going to appeal the decision on the cancellation of the residence permit and focus on the question of possible removal. Continue reading »
The situation with human rights in Belarus remains stably bad.
It has been proved by the report on the human rights situation in Belarus by the special UN rapporteur Miklosz Kharaszti. “Radio Svaboda” has been told about that by the chairman of “Viasna” human rights centre, Vice President of the International Federation for Human Rights Ales Bialitski. Continue reading »
The UN Special Rapporteuron Belarus, Miklos Haraszti on October 28 presented his report on the situationin the countrywithin the framework ofthe 69 thsession of theUN General Assembly.
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At the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on October 23 was presented the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Michel Forst. Continue reading »

Lilia Maroz
Standing Commission of the Council of the Republic of Belarus found no reason to test the administrative law for compliance with the Constitution and international law.
Homel opposition activists Uladzimir Katsora and Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh received such a response to their appeal from the House of territorial representation. Continue reading »
The Belarusian authorities must bring the defamation articles of the Penal Code in line with the international standards of press freedom and freedom of expression. The appeal by human rights defenders was made today at the roundtable “The situation in the media space of Belarus on the eve of the presidential campaign: Realities and Prospects”. Continue reading »
On 9 December in Minsk the civil initiative Human Rights Alliance announced the names of the holders of its yearly prize for human rights protection. The festive event was attended by about 50 people including journalists, politicians and civil activists.
It is the second time the prize is awarded. Last year its holders were the human rights defender Barys Zvoskau, the lawyer Tamara Sidarenka and the journalist Siamion Pechanko. Continue reading »
On the International Human Rights Day representatives of the Belarusian human rights community passed to the Presidential Administration a petition calling to abolish the death penalty as a kind of punishment that contradicts to the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution and international human rights treaties.
The member of Belarusian Helsinki Committee Hary Pahaniaila, the members of the Foundation for Legal Technologies Development Alena Tankachova and Volha Smalianka, the member of the Center for Human Rights Raisa Mikhailouskaya, the members of Human Rights Center Viasna Zmitser Salauyou and Iryna Toustsik, the member of the Committee for Protection of the Repressed Salidarnasts Andrei Sushko and the human rights defender from Brest Raman Kisliak came to the Presidential Administration. Continue reading »
In particular, Siarhei Housha asked the MFA why the Belarusian state didn’t implement the Committee’s decision concerning the Human Rights Center Viasna and why the state still hasn’t restored his right to association. According to Mr. Housha, if this question is beyond the MFA competency, the officials were obliged to tell to who he must apply. Continue reading »
For example, on Monday, 09/11/2009, after the force lost of a whole quarter of studies (due to the action-inaction of officials from Zhodzina and Minsk) by the son of Zhodzina human rights defenders, members of the HRC Viasna, Aliaksei and Sviatlana Lapitskis, Yanka returned to Gymnasium #1. Continue reading »
The representative of Belarusian Helsinki Committee in Salihorsk region Leonid Markhotka expressed his opinion regarding the practice of substituting political arrests by huge fines. Continue reading »
Homel civil and political figures on the criminal prosecution of Leanid Svetsik
Leanid Sudalenka, Chair of the Legal Initiative’s Homel office, human rights activist, Homel
– The Vitsebsk human rights activist Leanid Svetsik was convicted of sending letters with threats on behalf of the unregistered ultra-right organization RNE (Russian National Unity). The offence is prosecuted under Article 130-1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (fomenting racial, national or religious hatred). As far as I know, Svetsik’s work was to render legal assistance to the receivers of the letters and that was his only fault. Now he will have to pay a huge fine of 11,000 USD, which roughly equals to a 3-year’s average salary in Belarus. It looks like the State has made up its mind to earn money on the human rights activist and his big family. I am sure that Leanid Svetsik will find a decent way out of the complicated situation, for he has not admitted the verdict yet. He is going to appeal it, therefore he considers himself innocent! Continue reading »
Vitebsk human rights activist Leanid Svetsik has been punished by the system with the greatest fine of 34 million rubles on charges, which were immediately used by the official state media for fomenting resentment and hatred, further discrimination of the Belarusian society.
In this case, the target of a company of discredit appeared to be an active in its relations with the UNCHR Vitebsk human rights activist, an activist of the Belarusian civil society, whose very honorable mission of a human rights activist was damaged. Continue reading »
In its official reply, the General Department of Justice of Brest Regional Executive Committee says that the applicants failed to provide a valid duty payment certificate.
Mr.Malei says they are going to appeal the decision at Brest Regional Court.
Source: www.spring96.org
According to Mr. Housha, they are indignant at the very form of the denial: ‘your application for holding a picket in Baranavichy is not in line with the normative acts’. In their address to the prosecutor’s office the human rights defenders point at the fact that the normative acts they allegedly violated weren’t specified in the text of the denial. Besides, the officials exceeded the legal terms for answering. According to the law, the answer was to have been submitted five days before the action, but was submitted just two days prior to it. Continue reading »
On 14 October the Embassy of Germany suddenly and without any explanations refused to issue Schengen visas to well-known Belarusian human rights activists and journalists Uladzimir Labkovich, Alena Laptsionak and Siarhei Sys. Continue reading »