"Vyasna" rights group unveils new office (photo)
Human rights center "Vyasna" presents a new report about the situation with human rights in Belarus
The human rights center
"Vyasna" has "finally obtained a new office to replace the confiscated
apartment of Ales Byalyatski. According to Valyantsin Stefanovich,
the state cannot confiscate the new apartment despite the wildest desire.
Valyantsin Stefanovich: "The owner of this apartment
is not a citizen of Belarus and does not live in Belarus. We use and own this
apartment on the basis of powers-of-attorney, executed in my name and in the
name of Uladz Labkovich. We have as broad authorizations and rights as
possible, like, we can rent it if we want. Therefore, I hope we
will stay here for long.
"Vyasna" does not
only use the apartment free of charge, but has a right to sell it.
The HR defenders also presented the review-chronicle "Situation with Human
Rights in Belarus" for 2012 and the "Report upon the results of the
monitoring of penal places in Belarus".
"Our task was to convey the situation which developed in the
Belarusian prisons, to the society, making people realize that these are the
system problems, they do not depend just on the people who execute punishment,
or prison directors. These problems are caused by the very essence of our penal
norms", - author of the "Report" lawyer Pavel
Sapelka explains to the audience.
Despite the new office, the HR defenders do not
feel the situation is improving, complains Valyantsin Stefanovich. They have no
special hopes for the political liberalization, even despite the negotiations
with the European Union.
Valyantsin Stefanovich: "It would be good of course
if at least political prisoners were released, or the criminal harassment under
political reasons lessened. However, I think we should not hope for broader
reforms which would let us speak about some liberalization in the
country."
Besides, today's the 10th anniversary since the day when the authorities cancelled the official registration of "Vyasna". The HR defenders worked as a non-registered organization all this time, but they did not hide, claims Stefanovich. They are not going to hide furthermore, although they have already got numerous warnings from the Prosecutor General.
Photo: Zmicier Lukashuk, Euroradio