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The imprisonment conditions for Belarusian political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok was toughened.
On 4 December the court decided to send political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok (right) to the closed-type prison. The reason for that was his recognition as a “malicious violator of the imprisonment regime” in the prison, where he served his sentence.
Belarusian human rights defenders and lawyers met with the Ombudsman of Ukraine Valeriya Lutkovska
On 29 October Belarusian lawyers and human rights defenders, the participants of the “International Law in Advocacy” program met with Ombudsman of Ukraine Valeriya Lutkovska (right) in Kiev at the the Secretariat of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.
With its office confiscated, “Viasna” continues working
The office of the Belarusian Human Rights Center “Viasna” is scheduled to be confiscated on 26 November. Members of the organization are determined to continue their work in any circumstances.
Human rights defenders held initial consultations with the UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus
On 12-13 November Belarusian HRH hosted the first meeting of the Belarusian human rights defenders with Miklós Haraszti, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus.
Whereabouts of political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich unknown for a week (updated)
On 30 October Mazyr circuit court ruled to transfer the leader of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich (right) from Mazyr colony to the supermax jail. Since then and up to 8 November, the whereabouts of Zmitser remained unknown.
Another human rights organisation is being liquidated in Belarus
On 9 October Minsk Economic Court ruled to close the institution for the protection of prisoners’ rights “Platforma” in Belarus for violation of the tax laws. Belarusian human rights defenders view the closure as an attempt to pressure the civil society in Belarus. “Platforma” has lodged an appeal against the decision of the court.
Journalist Andrzej Poczobut: “I will continue writing until I am imprisoned”
Investigative authorities of Belarus prolonged an investigation into the case of Belarusian independent journalist Andrzej Poczobut. Poczobut, the correspondent for the Polish Gazeta Wyborcza, is accused of libelling the Belarusian president. The investigation states that some of his articles posted on the Internet “contain libelous statements concerning the head of state”.
EU renews sanctions against Belarus
On 15 October the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU renewed the sanctions against Belarus till 31 October 2013.
Advocates from 5 countries discussed ways to protect rights to freedom of expression and association
On 29-30 September a regional HRHN conference “Freedom of Speech and Association: From Theory to Practice” was held in Moscow, Russian Federation. The conference was attended by lawyers, human rights defenders, journalists and experts from five countries – Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.