The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2020

30.04.2020 Russia: Continuing judicial harassment and arbitrary detention of Mr. Konstantin Kotov

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your intervention in the following situation in the Russian Federation.

29.04.2020 2020 presidential election in Belarus: key proposals from human rights defenders

Members of the non-partisan election observation campaign “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” sent today to the Central Election Commission, the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court a set of key proposals on this year’s presidential election scheduled for late August.

29.04.2020 Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Human rights must be protected during COVID-19 pandemic

Governments in Eastern European and Central Asian countries are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with repressive and abusive measures which fall far short of their human rights obligations, Amnesty International said today.

24.04.2020 Picks of the week

Police search apartment of human rights activist in Svietlahorsk; man in Homieĺ fined for sharing banned video about Lukashenka; woman claims wrong conviction for failing to self-isolate

24.04.2020 Viasna calls to suspend administrative detention during COVID-19 pandemic

Under the conditions of the pandemic declared by the World Health Organization, it is incumbent on the Belarusian authorities to take immediate steps to prevent the spread of the virus among the categories of people most at risk of infection: low-income and homeless persons, alcohol abusers and prisoners.

21.04.2020 Amnesty International: 657 people executed in 2019, Belarus kills at least 2

In 2019, global executions fell by 5%, hitting a 10-year low, Amnesty International said in its annual overview of the death penalty around the world.

17.04.2020 Picks of the week

Authorities extend investigation in Pilip Shaurou case; HRDs write to UN expert about politically motivated expulsion of student in Minsk; Viasna activist convicted in Baranavičy

17.04.2020 Belarus in Amnesty International's annual human rights review

Amnesty International has released an annual report on the human rights situation in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

16.04.2020 Human rights defenders call to release political prisoner Pilip Shaurou

Statement by the human rights community of Belarus

13.04.2020 Amnesty International calls on Belarus to commute death sentences of Kostseu brothers

Amnesty International has launched an urgent action in support of Stanislau and Illia Kostseu, death row prisoners in Belarus. It calls on its members worldwide to write to the authorities of Belarus urging them to commute the death sentences.

10.04.2020 Picks of the week

Investigative journalist Siarhei Satsuk walks free but still a suspect in criminal case; presidential election in August may become a formality if not put off over COVID-19 pandemic, expert says; Viasna protests expulsion of student over demanding distance learning

08.04.2020 COVID-19: Jailed Human Rights Defenders Must Be Released Immediately

In light of the serious threat posed to prisoners by the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, FIDH and its undersigned member organisations recall governments’ obligation to ensure the safety and health of detained individuals that are under their responsibility, and launch a campaign, #ForFreedom, to call for the release of all jailed human rights defenders (HRDs).

08.04.2020 Belarus says no to Jehovah’s Witness’s extradition to Russia

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Belarus has refused to extradite a Jehovah’s Witnesses follower, Nikolai Makhalichev, to Russia. He was released from custody, human rights organization Human Constanta said on Facebook.

06.04.2020 Activists protest expected extradition of Jehovah’s Witness to Russia

Belarus should not extradite Nikolai Makhalichev, a Jehovah’s Witness detained in the town of Haradok, to Russia, where he is facing unfounded charges of “extremism” in Russia, and years in prison if convicted, Amnesty International said in an urgent appeal to Belarusian Prosecutor General.

03.04.2020 Picks of the week

Authorities increasingly prosecute critical journalists and bloggers; domestic and foreign organizations urge to release investigative journalist Siarhei Satsuk; human rights defenders alarmed by situation in prisons amid coronavirus outbreak