Human rights defender Tatsiana Reviaka questioned by KGB

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/21/2012 - 21:33

Mrs. Tatsiana Reviaka, member of the Human Rights Center Viasna’s Council, has been summoned for “conversation” to the KGB central office, after she received an official writ, saying that she should be questioned “as a person being aware of circumstances that have significance for maintaining the national security of the Republic of Belarus.”

Tatsiana Reviaka visited the KGB office, accompanied by her lawyer.

The human rights defender says the summons is linked to her activities and the ongoing harassment of Viasna and its activists intensified after the arrest of its leader Ales Bialiatski.

The interrogation dealt with an article entitled “Mahiliou KGB interferes with electoral process”, published on the www.spring96.org web-site on 15 August, said Mrs. Reviaka after the questioning. KGB officer Aliaksandr Matskevich also inquired on the source of the information and its author. He then asked whether Tatsiana Reviaka checked the data mentioned in the article.

In turn, Mrs. Reviaka said the publication could not discredit the KGB.

As a result, Tatsiana Reviaka was warned over the publication of unchecked information on Viasna’s web-site.
http://spring96.org/en/news/55955

News of Belarus

Tough sentences announced to Brest antifascists

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/05/2015 - 21:00

A verdict was delivered today in the case of Brest antifascists acused of participation in a group fight with neonazis which happened on May 8, 2013.

Antifascists were tried under the art. 339.3 (malicious group hooliganism) and 147.2 (malicious bodily harm). The case was qualified as malicious due to the fact of pepper spray usage in the fight.

Dzmitry Stsyashenka got 5 years of penal colony with reinforced regime (339.3) and 500 euro of damages to be paid to the injured nazis.

Exclusive: European Union moves to suspend sanctions on Belarus

Submitted by admin on Wed, 09/16/2015 - 21:00

The European Union is likely to lift some sanctions on Belarus, including its travel ban on President Alexander Lukashenko, after he freed a group of political prisoners last month, diplomatic sources say.

An arms embargo against the former Soviet republic would remain. But in an overture to the man the West calls Europe's "last dictator", diplomats are looking at suspending visa bans and asset freezes on most of around 200 people under sanctions for rights abuses, some since disputed elections in 2004.