The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for September 2020

30.09.2020 Convicted protesters in Maladziečna are political prisoners

Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community on the sentencing of Uladzislau Yeustsihneyeu and Pavel Piaskou

30.09.2020 "One of them beats you and the other aims at you with a machine gun." Survivor stories

28-year-old Minsk resident Uladzislau Salavey, a kindergarten teacher assistant, was detained on August 9 and placed in the detention center in Akrescin Street. There, he was sentenced to 14 days of arrest and then transferred to a compulsory rehabilitation center near Sluck to serve his time. Uladzislau told "Viasna" what he and others had to go through in those five days of detention.

30.09.2020 Civic Solidarity Platform calls to release Marfa Rabkova

We demand that Belarusian authorities immediately and unconditionally release Marfa Rabkova, terminate criminal proceedings against her and guarantee her physical and psychological security and integrity.

29.09.2020 Two protesters go to prison over violence in election picket

Two men in Maladziečna, a city 70 kms northeast of Minsk, were found guilty today of using violence against riot police officers during a protest held on June 19. Pavel Piaskou, 31, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison, and Uladzislau Yeustsihneyeu, 25, was sentenced to three years, both under Art. 363, Part 2 of the Criminal Code.

29.09.2020 "They took away my bra with a breast prosthesis." Survivor stories

Maryia Ambrosava from Minsk told Viasna how she and her husband Yury went to a police station on August 10th to report their son missing, but found themselves in a police van and spent four days in the detention center in Akrescin Street. All these days, they were not aware that their son had been released, so when people were shouting from beatings, Maryia felt it was her son who was screaming.

28.09.2020 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders concerned about Liudmila Kazak’s detention

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.

28.09.2020 Day 50 of protests marred by new detentions

At least 340 persons were detained during yesterday’s protests held in a dozen cities across Belarus. Some 250 demonstrators were detained in Minsk. There were detentions in Mahilioŭ, Hrodna, Viciebsk, Brest, Salihorsk, Maladziečna, Žodzina, Orša, Baranavičy and others.

28.09.2020 Members of the Swiss National Council and the German Bundestag adopt Uladzimir Niaronski, Andrei Pazniak and Aleh Rubets

As part of the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou of Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights, Nik Gugger (National Council, EVP), Ottmar von Holtz (Bundestag, Bündnis90 / Die Grünen) and Dirk Wiese (Bundestag, SPD) take over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus and demand their immediate and unconditional release.

27.09.2020 "Road police officers broke my arm during detention." Survivor stories

The Human Rights Center “Viasna” and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) launched a campaign to document cases of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of protesters on August 9-13. Some testimonies of people who survived torture and violence will be published on our website as evidence of crimes committed by security forces.

27.09.2020 Marfa Rabkova faces formal charges

Viasna activist Marfa Rabkova has been officially charged under Part 3, Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (training or other preparation of persons for participation in mass riots, or financing of such activities). She remains in custody in pre-trial detention center No. 1 in Minsk.

25.09.2020 UN human rights experts: Belarus must release opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava

UN human rights experts today called on Belarus to release prominent opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava, and to bring to justice those responsible for her enforced disappearance.

25.09.2020 HRDs demand immediate release of political prisoner Stsiapan Latypau

Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community

25.09.2020 Kalesnikava’s lawyer detained

Liudmila Kazak, lawyer of arrested opposition leader Maryia Kalesnikava, was detained by security forces last afternoon.

25.09.2020 Urgent action by Amnesty International: Release human rights defender Marfa Rabkova

Woman human rights defender Marfa Rabkova was detained as a criminal suspect under false pretext on the evening of 17 September, by officers of the Interior Ministry’s Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (GUBAZIK). Her husband Vadzim Zharomski was also detained but released shortly after. Marfa Rabkova may face criminal charges. She is a prisoner of conscience, targeted solely for her peaceful human rights work and must be immediately and unconditionally released.

24.09.2020 Amnesty International calls to release prisoner of conscience Maryia Kalesnikava

Belarusian authorities abducted opposition leader Maryia Kalesnikava on 7 September. After she resisted expulsion from Belarus she was detained and, on 16 September, charged with “undermining national security”. The authorities are rushing her prosecution to make it a precedent and serve as a warning to all peaceful protesters, for whom she has become a symbol of resistance, dignity and courage. Maryia Kalesnikava is a prisoner of conscience and must be released immediately and unconditionally.