The Viasna Human Rights Centre (Belarusian: Праваабарончы цэнтр «Вясна», romanized: Pravaabarončy centr «Viasna») is a human rights organization based in Minsk, Belarus. The organization aims to provide financial and legal assistance to political prisoners and their families, and was founded in 1996 by activist Ales Bialatski in response to large-scale repression of demonstrations by the government of Alexander Lukashenko.[2]
In 2005, Bialatski and Viasna won the Homo Homini Award of the Czech NGO People in Need, which recognizes "an individual who is deserving of significant recognition due to their promotion of human rights, democracy and non-violent solutions to political conflicts".[2]
Following a widespread crackdown on political activists protesting a controversial 2010 presidential election criticized by United Nations[4] and European Union observers,[5] both Viasna's offices[6] and Bialatski's home have been repeatedly searched by state security forces.[7] On 14 February, Bialatski was summoned to the Public Prosecutor's office and warned that as Viasna was an unregistered organization, the government would seek criminal proceedings against it if the group continued to operate.[8]
On 26 November 2012, in accordance with a court ruling against Bialatski, the Minsk office of Viasna was confiscated and sealed by the Belarusian government.[9]Amnesty International described the closure as "a blatant violation of Belarus' international human rights obligations".[10]
Following the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests, the Viasna Human Rights Centre together with the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims, REDRESS and the International Committee for Investigation of Torture in Belarus founded the International Accountability Platform for Belarus. In a joint declaration, 19 states expressed their full support for the establishment of such a platform.[11]
In the ongoing crackdown on independent media and human rights defenders in Belarus, ‘Viasna’ suffered from significant pressure. Leanid Sudalenka, lawyer of the Homieĺ (Gomel) branch of Viasna, Maria Rabkova and Tatsiana Lasitsa, Viasna’s volunteers, were arrested with criminal charges. Rabkova spent more than 6 month in the pre-trial detention.[12] On February 16, 2021, the Investigative Committee searched Viasna’s headquarters in Minsk and regional offices, raided employees' homes. A criminal case against the activists was opened under Article 342, meaning “organising or preparing actions that grossly violate the public order or taking active part in such actions”. Dzmitry Salauyou, board member of ‘Viasna’, was detained and beaten by the police.[13] The persecution of ‘Viasna’ members continues, politically motivated charges have been levelled on Valiantsin Stefanovich, Uladzimir Labkovich and Ales Bialiatski.[14][15]
In the winter of 2021–2022, the Belarusian authorities recognized Viasna’s Internet resources as extremist materials,[17][18] and in August 2023, Viasna was declared an extremist group. Participation in the activities of an extremist group is a criminal offense under Belarusian law.[19]
Awardsedit
In May 2022, the human rights center "Viasna" was awarded The Albie Awards 2022, established by the "Clooney Foundation for Justice", in the nomination "Justice for Democracy Defenders". The award ceremony took place in September in New York. Alina Stefanovich, the wife of political prisoner and human rights activist Valentin Stefanovich, received the award on behalf of "Viasna".
On October 7, 2022, it became known that the head of the "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize together with the Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine) and "Memorial" (Russia).
On December 8, 2022, the awarding ceremony of the human rights prize "The Human Rights Tulip 2022", established by the Government of the Netherlands, was held in The Hague. The human rights center "Viasna" became the winner of the award.
On December 10, 2022, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded, on behalf of one of the laureates, Belarusian political prisoner Ales Bialiatski, his wife, Natalia Pinchuk, accepted a medal and diploma, and also read a lecture. The Belarusian authorities did not give the laureate the opportunity to take part in the ceremony, as they continued to keep him in custody.
Referencesedit
^"About Viasna". Viasna Human Rights Centre. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
^ ab"Homo Homini Award". People in Need. 2005. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
^"Правозащитники: За июнь в Беларуси осудили 125 участников протестов" [Human rights activists: 125 protesters convicted in June in Belarus]. www.dw.com. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
^"United Nations to Belarus: Release political prisoners". Kyiv Post. 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
^"Who attacked Belarusian government building?". Polskie Radio. 2010-12-20. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
^Ales Bialatski (14 March 2011). "Shattering Hopes". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
^Ales Bialatski (24 May 2011). "Testimony of Ales Bialatski". dailymotion.com. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
^"Warning against Mr. Ales Bialatski". International Federation for Human Rights. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
^Artur Smirnow (28 November 2012). "Minsk authorities close human rights office". Deutsche Welle. from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
^"Belarus evicts leading human rights organization". Amnesty International. 26 November 2012. from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
^"HRDs launch International Accountability Platform for Belarus". Viasna Human Rights Centre. 24 March 2021.
^"Belarus: Arbitrary detention of Viasna members Leanid Sudalenka and Tatsiana Lasitsa". International Federation for Human Rights. 2021-02-08. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
^"Belarus: Judicial harassment against the Human Rights Centre 'Viasna'". International Federation for Human Rights. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
^"Belarus: Acts of harassment against the Human Rights Centre Viasna". International Federation for Human Rights. 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
^"One Year Since Belarus' Rigged Elections, Human Rights Situation Continues to Deteriorate". Civil Rights Defender. 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
^"The Nobel Peace Prize 2022". NobelPrize.org. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
^"«Экстрэмісцкімі» прызналі праваабарончы тэлеграм-канал ПЦ «Вясна» і ўсе іх сацсеткі". Novy Chas (in Belarusian). 2021-12-30.
viasna, human, rights, centre, belarusian, Праваабарончы, цэнтр, Вясна, romanized, pravaabarončy, centr, viasna, human, rights, organization, based, minsk, belarus, organization, aims, provide, financial, legal, assistance, political, prisoners, their, familie. The Viasna Human Rights Centre Belarusian Pravaabaronchy centr Vyasna romanized Pravaabaroncy centr Viasna is a human rights organization based in Minsk Belarus The organization aims to provide financial and legal assistance to political prisoners and their families and was founded in 1996 by activist Ales Bialatski in response to large scale repression of demonstrations by the government of Alexander Lukashenko 2 ViasnaFoundedApril 1996 27 years ago 1996 04 FoundersAles BialiatskiTypeNonprofit INGOServicesProtecting human rightsFieldsPractical assistance to civic initiatives research into the state of the civic society civic and human rights education 1 ChairmanAles Bialiatski currently imprisoned Websitespring96 org Contents 1 History 2 Awards 3 References 4 Literature 5 External linksHistory editThe Viasna Human Rights Centre registered in Minsk in 1997 was liquidated in October 2003 by a decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus The reason was the participation of the organization s members in observing the 2001 Belarusian presidential election 3 In 2005 Bialatski and Viasna won the Homo Homini Award of the Czech NGO People in Need which recognizes an individual who is deserving of significant recognition due to their promotion of human rights democracy and non violent solutions to political conflicts 2 Following a widespread crackdown on political activists protesting a controversial 2010 presidential election criticized by United Nations 4 and European Union observers 5 both Viasna s offices 6 and Bialatski s home have been repeatedly searched by state security forces 7 On 14 February Bialatski was summoned to the Public Prosecutor s office and warned that as Viasna was an unregistered organization the government would seek criminal proceedings against it if the group continued to operate 8 On 26 November 2012 in accordance with a court ruling against Bialatski the Minsk office of Viasna was confiscated and sealed by the Belarusian government 9 Amnesty International described the closure as a blatant violation of Belarus international human rights obligations 10 Following the 2020 2021 Belarusian protests the Viasna Human Rights Centre together with the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims REDRESS and the International Committee for Investigation of Torture in Belarus founded the International Accountability Platform for Belarus In a joint declaration 19 states expressed their full support for the establishment of such a platform 11 nbsp Wopke Hoekstra presents the Human Rights Tulip to Viasna Human Rights Centre in December 2022In the ongoing crackdown on independent media and human rights defenders in Belarus Viasna suffered from significant pressure Leanid Sudalenka lawyer of the Homieĺ Gomel branch of Viasna Maria Rabkova and Tatsiana Lasitsa Viasna s volunteers were arrested with criminal charges Rabkova spent more than 6 month in the pre trial detention 12 On February 16 2021 the Investigative Committee searched Viasna s headquarters in Minsk and regional offices raided employees homes A criminal case against the activists was opened under Article 342 meaning organising or preparing actions that grossly violate the public order or taking active part in such actions Dzmitry Salauyou board member of Viasna was detained and beaten by the police 13 The persecution of Viasna members continues politically motivated charges have been levelled on Valiantsin Stefanovich Uladzimir Labkovich and Ales Bialiatski 14 15 In 2022 Viasna founder Bialiatski was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with the organisations Memorial and Centre for Civil Liberties 16 In the winter of 2021 2022 the Belarusian authorities recognized Viasna s Internet resources as extremist materials 17 18 and in August 2023 Viasna was declared an extremist group Participation in the activities of an extremist group is a criminal offense under Belarusian law 19 Awards editIn May 2022 the human rights center Viasna was awarded The Albie Awards 2022 established by the Clooney Foundation for Justice in the nomination Justice for Democracy Defenders The award ceremony took place in September in New York Alina Stefanovich the wife of political prisoner and human rights activist Valentin Stefanovich received the award on behalf of Viasna On October 7 2022 it became known that the head of the Viasna Ales Bialiatski was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize together with the Center for Civil Liberties Ukraine and Memorial Russia On December 8 2022 the awarding ceremony of the human rights prize The Human Rights Tulip 2022 established by the Government of the Netherlands was held in The Hague The human rights center Viasna became the winner of the award On December 10 2022 the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded on behalf of one of the laureates Belarusian political prisoner Ales Bialiatski his wife Natalia Pinchuk accepted a medal and diploma and also read a lecture The Belarusian authorities did not give the laureate the opportunity to take part in the ceremony as they continued to keep him in custody References edit About Viasna Viasna Human Rights Centre Retrieved 17 November 2022 a b Homo Homini Award People in Need 2005 Retrieved 3 June 2011 Pravozashitniki Za iyun v Belarusi osudili 125 uchastnikov protestov Human rights activists 125 protesters convicted in June in Belarus www dw com 1 July 2021 Retrieved 3 March 2023 United Nations to Belarus Release political prisoners Kyiv Post 2011 01 11 Retrieved 2011 01 11 Who attacked Belarusian government building Polskie Radio 2010 12 20 Retrieved 2010 12 23 Ales Bialatski 14 March 2011 Shattering Hopes Human Rights Watch Retrieved 3 June 2011 Ales Bialatski 24 May 2011 Testimony of Ales Bialatski dailymotion com Retrieved 3 June 2011 Warning against Mr Ales Bialatski International Federation for Human Rights 16 February 2011 Retrieved 3 June 2011 Artur Smirnow 28 November 2012 Minsk authorities close human rights office Deutsche Welle Archived from the original on 28 November 2012 Retrieved 28 November 2012 Belarus evicts leading human rights organization Amnesty International 26 November 2012 Archived from the original on 29 November 2012 Retrieved 28 November 2012 HRDs launch International Accountability Platform for Belarus Viasna Human Rights Centre 24 March 2021 Belarus Arbitrary detention of Viasna members Leanid Sudalenka and Tatsiana Lasitsa International Federation for Human Rights 2021 02 08 Retrieved 2021 08 25 Belarus Judicial harassment against the Human Rights Centre Viasna International Federation for Human Rights 2021 03 10 Retrieved 2021 08 25 Belarus Acts of harassment against the Human Rights Centre Viasna International Federation for Human Rights 2021 02 26 Retrieved 2021 08 25 One Year Since Belarus Rigged Elections Human Rights Situation Continues to Deteriorate Civil Rights Defender 2021 08 09 Retrieved 2021 08 25 The Nobel Peace Prize 2022 NobelPrize org Retrieved 7 October 2022 Ekstremisckimi pryznali pravaabaronchy telegram kanal PC Vyasna i yse ih sacsetki Novy Chas in Belarusian 2021 12 30 Usyu infarmacyjnuyu pradukcyyu Vyasny pryznali ekstremisckaj Novy Chas in Belarusian 2022 01 31 Belarus Viasna Human Rights Center declared an extremist formation International Federation for Human Rights 2023 08 28 Literature editIoffe Grigory Silitski Vitali 2018 Historical Dictionary of Belarus Historical Dictionaries of Europe Third ed Lanham Rowman amp Littlefield p 334 ISBN 978 1538117057 External links editBelarusian Human Rights Centre Viasna the official site Human Rights Center Viasna 15 years of persecution nbsp This Belarus related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Viasna Human Rights Centre amp oldid 1181090568, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
