News for March 2018
30.03.2018 Belarus: Human rights defenders arrested
On 25 March 2018, six human rights defenders Maxim Kovalev, Tatyana Mastykina, Andrei Krechko, Anna Sakhankova, Anastasia Vasilchuk and Nasta Loiko, all members of The Human Rights Centre “Viasna” and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, were arrested in Minsk near Yakub Kolas Square for observing a public event
29.03.2018 Belarus: UN expert calls for end to rights abuses and deplores State repression
A new wave of arbitrary arrests, the use of the death penalty and violations of media freedom in Belarus have prompted a UN expert to call on the authorities there to respect their human rights obligations and implement recommendations made over the past two decades.
28.03.2018 Belarus: Arbitrary arrest and subsequent release of seven observers of Viasna and BHC, and obstacles to the right to peaceful assembly
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Belarus.
27.03.2018 Political prisoner Dzmitry Paliyenka transferred to prison hospital in Žodzina
Political prisoner Dzmitry Paliyenka, who is currently serving a 2-year politically motivated sentence in a penal colony in Babrujsk, has been transferred to a prison hospital in Žodzina, according to activist Maryna Nasenka.
27.03.2018 Report on monitoring the peaceful assemblies on March 25, 2018 in Minsk
On March 25, 2018 in Minsk, events timed to the centenary of the proclamation of the Belarusian People's Republic were held.
27.03.2018 Enhance the process to select new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
In a letter to the UN Secretary-General, a coalition of more than 70 civil society organisations has put forward proposals to revitalise and enhance the process to select the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
27.03.2018 Statement by the Spokesperson on the developments in the run up to and during Freedom Day in Belarus
Belarus marked Freedom Day on 25 March to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Belarus's independence. While the authorisation of the celebratory event was appreciated, a requested rally was not allowed and the response of the Belarusian authorities was disproportionate.
26.03.2018 Human rights defenders condemn mass detentions ahead and during peaceful assemblies on March 25, 2018
We, representatives of Belarusian human rights organizations, strongly condemn the preemptive detentions of activists throughout the country on the eve of mass events in honor of the centenary of the proclamation of the Belarusian People’s Republic, as well as during and after these peaceful assemblies.
25.03.2018 Viasna observers, protesters, journalists detained in Minsk and across country
Six observers of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” have been detained by the police in Minsk’s central Yakub Kolas Square, which was expected to host an illegal protest by Mikalai Statkevich’s associates. The opposition politician himself was detained earlier this morning and sent to serve 10 days of administrative detention.
22.03.2018 MEPs ‘alarmed’ by lack of ‘tangible progress’ in Belarus’ human rights record
“The situation with regard to basic human rights and democracy in Belarus is far from showing signs of any tangible progress and change,” a group of MEPs said in a letter to Federica Mogherini, Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
22.03.2018 Ales Bialiatski: “We protest against the repressive actions of the authorities ahead of Freedom Day”
As previously reported by the Human Rights Center "Viasna", police in Minsk arrested several opposition figures, who were expected to lead a protest on March 25. The human rights activists are outraged by such actions of the authorities.
21.03.2018 Opposition leaders held ahead of March 25 celebrations
Several leaders of the Belarusian political opposition have been detained today, including Uladzimir Niakliayeu and Viachaslau Siuchyk.
16.03.2018 Weekly picks in figures
The country’s authorities continue abusing legislation to sanction reporters working for local and foreign media.
15.03.2018 Belarus: undisclosed execution comes to light
Amnesty International strongly condemns the execution of Belarusian death row prisoner, Kiryl Kazachok, in October 2017. News of his execution has only recently been disclosed by the family and brings the total number of known executions in Belarus in 2017 to two.
14.03.2018 Authorities block access to political prisoners
The administration of penal colony No. 9 in Horki, Mahilioŭ region, has not allowed representatives of the regional Public Monitoring Commission to meet with political prisoner Mikhail Zhamchuzhny, who is currently held in the facility, mspring.online said.
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