Latest

On 16-18 October 2009 in the Human Rights House was held a training session on the program “International Law in Advocacy”. Two participants – 4-year students of the program of “International Law” of the European Humanities University in Vilnius – have shared their impressions with www.humanrightshouse.org.

The International Association of Journalists in its final report after visiting Republic of Belarus this September declares that in today’s situation neither Belarusian journalists nor publications can adequately work, collect and distribute information about events in the country.

The Human Rights House Foundation and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee deeply regret the Supreme Court of Belarus’ ruling to uphold the decision of Vitebsk oblast court against human rights defender Leonid Svetsik.

An ironical procession of ‘Santa Clauses’ to the Prosecutor General of Republic of Belarus was initiated mostly by activists of unregistered NGOs within the campaign “STOP 193.3”. The idea was to remind the authorities about Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code that envisages criminal persecution for activities on behalf of unregistered organizations.

A picket of solidarity with victims of the regime in Minsk has been dispersed with unprecedented brutality, the human rights organisation Charter97 reports. 30 oppositionals were beaten up and arrested. Journalists were beaten as well, as the authorities’ militia would not let them film the excessive use of force.

The HR defenders of Baranavičy, West Republic of Belarus, seek to stop the disgraceful practice of banning mass actions by local authorities. Siarhei Housha, right, Karnei Piatrovich and Viktar Syrytsa applied to the district prosecutor’s office concerning the ban of a picket against death penalty.

Another seminar within the program focuses on Council of Europe’s institutions, European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its additional protocols, European Court of Human Rights, decisions of UN Human Rights Committee considering freedom of expression, freedom of expression in Belarus de jure and de facto, etc.

Belarusian authorities are still keen on controlling mass media. Printed publications are subdued by a state distribution monopoly. Radio and TV broadcasters are at constant risk of losing transmitting rights.

Republic of Belarus is the only country left in Europe that still conducts executions. Vasily Yusepchuk was sentenced to death by Brest Regional Court on 29 June 2009 for the murder of six elderly women, although his lawyers argue the case against him was fundamentally flawed. On 2 October his appeal to the Supreme Court was turned down leaving him 10 days from that date to apply to President Lukashenka for clemency.