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Ales Bialiatski, President of the Human Rights Center Viasna, has been awarded the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize 2013.

The representatives of FIDH and Belarusian NGOs will discuss the current state of human rights in Belarus. The most recent information from the Belarusian human rights defenders and their international colleagues will be presented. The speakers will touch upon the issues, that are of greatest concern for Belarusian human rights defenders.

Political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich (right) blade cut his abdomen in protest against the humiliating attitude of the prison administration. Despite the his exemplary behavior, the administration tried to discredit him, filing a report stating that he was not in his bed after the lights-out time.

As part of the educational program “International Law in Advocacy” the Belarusian human rights defenders had a meeting with their Ukrainian colleagues and had the opportunity to learn about the experiences of the office of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights.

The book by Ales Bialiatski “could damage the image of the Republic of Belarus.” This conclusion was made by the expert committee which considered the collection of literary essays and sketches “Enlightened by Belarusianness” (“Asvechanyia Belaruschynai”), which was published during the author’s imprisonment. The book was requested for examination by Ashmiany Customs Office.

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee, the Human Rights Center “Viasna” and the international human rights organization Amnesty International urged to ensure the release of Ihar Pastnou (right), Vitebsk psychiatrist, who was forcibly detained and medically treated for his outspoken criticism of the local health care system.

On 3 September the term of imprisonment of political prisoner Aliaksandr Frantskievich (right) has ended. He spent 3 years in prison. After his release, Aliaksandr spoke about the pressure he was under in prison, and his plans for the future.

Zmitser Dashkevich, the leader of the “Young Front” was released from Hrodna prison in the morning, on 28 August. The prisoner of conscience was met by dozens of people – friends, journalists and his wife – Anastasiya Dashkevich.

The Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House calls for people with active civic stand in life, who are ready to dedicate their time and efforts to volunteering, who are interested in gaining experience and knowledge, as well as meeting new people, to join a team of volunteer trainees.