The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for September 2020

24.09.2020 300 detained in protests across Belarus

According to Viasna’s database, at least three hundred protesters were detained last night across the country, as thousands of people protested the unannounced inauguration of Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

23.09.2020 "I was lucky to be a journalist and to have my kidneys thrashed previously." Survivor stories

Siarhei Herasimovich was detained on 10 August at 9 p.m. near the Yubileynaya Hotel in Minsk. He was walking with his journalist colleagues when the cars on the avenue started beeping. Siarhei raised his hand in a Victory sign. Suddenly, the riot police shouted: "Come here!" The journalist walked up and was brutally thrown into the police van where the policemen started beating him with batons.

23.09.2020 Nasha Niva editor held on libel charges

Yahor Martsinovich, editor-in-chief of Nasha Niva, a popular online news site, was detained this morning by Belarusian security officers. His apartment was searched by the Interior Ministry’s Directorate of Internal Security.

23.09.2020 German, Polish and Swiss MPs take over godparenthood for Liliya Ulasava, Illia Salei, Vital and Yahor Prakapchuk

Members of the European Parliament Katarina Barley (Germany) and Robert Biedron (Poland) and Members of the Swiss National Council Marianne Streiff-Feller and Lilian Studer have taken over godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus as part Libereco’s solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou.

23.09.2020 Statement by the civic solidarity platform on the situation in Belarus

The undersigned organizations, members of the international NGO network “Civic Solidarity Platform”, have been following the events unfolding in Belarus in the recent months with increasing concern about actions of the authorities and with great respect towards the participants of peaceful protests.

22.09.2020 Over 250 criminal cases opened since launch of election

Since the announcement of the presidential election in early May, the authorities have opened over 250 criminal cases targeting presidential candidates, members of their campaign teams, and peaceful protesters. Viasna knows the names of 200 persons affected by these cases.

22.09.2020 Ukrainian NGO call to stop pressure on Viasna

Representatives of the Ukrainian human rights organizations are seriously concerned with the pressure on the Human Rights Center «Viasna» by the authorities of the Republic of Belarus.

21.09.2020 Front Line Defenders urges Belarus to release Marfa Rabkova

Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the detention of Marfa (Maria) Rabkova as well as the harassment of her husband Vadzim Zharomski.

21.09.2020 Viasna activist Marfa Rabkova is political prisoner

Joint statement of the Belarusian human rights community

21.09.2020 Council of Europe: Human rights violations in Belarus must stop immediately

More than a month after the beginning of mass protests following the presidential elections in Belarus, the human rights situation in the country remains extremely worrying. Thousands of peaceful protesters have been arrested, and several individuals have been reported missing. Yet, non-violent demonstrations have continued across the country. Belarusian women have emerged as key voices of dissent in Belarus and an inspiration for many around the world.

$Woman suffers leg fracture after violent detention in Homieĺ protest$

21.09.2020 Woman suffers leg fracture after violent detention in Homieĺ protest

A 48-year-old woman was diagnosed with a broken leg after she was pushed by a riot police officer during a brutal detention at yesterday’s protest in Homieĺ.

21.09.2020 Police detain 237 protesters in Sunday March of Justice

According to Viasna’s database, security forces detained 237 people during a series of demonstrations held yesterday across the country. Tens of thousands protested in a dozen cities despite heavy police presence, including water cannons, armored vehicles and other riot gear.

21.09.2020 MPs from Poland and Germany take over prisoners’ godparenthood for Andrei Novikau, Uladzimir Tsyhanovich and Dzmitry Kazlou

As part of Libereco’s solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou, Tomasz Frankowski (European Parliament, Poland), Franziska Brantner (German Bundestag) and Niklas Nienaß (European Parliament, Germany) have taken over godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.

20.09.2020 Over 400 detained in women’s protest in Minsk

415 protesters were detained during yesterday’s Women’s March in Minsk, according to the Interior Ministry’s spokesperson. Viasna knows the names of 390 detained demonstrators, most of them women.