News for April 2021
30.04.2021 Death convicts brothers Kostseu pardoned
Illia Kostseu and Stanislau Kostseu, two brothers sentenced to death in January 2020, have been pardoned, according to their relatives.
30.04.2021 Members of Parliament from Sweden and Ireland take over godparenthood for Aliaksandr Tseleshman, Ales Pushkin and Artsiom Miadzvedski
As part of the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou of Libereco, Jakop Dalunde (European Parliament, Miljöpartiet de gröna, Sweden), Camilla Hansén (Riksdag of Sweden, Miljöpartiet de gröna, Sweden) and Seán Kelly (European Parliament, Fine Gael, Ireland) have taken over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.
30.04.2021 14 defendants in political trial get lengthy prison terms
The Maskoŭski District Court of Brest ruled today in the “rioting” case (Part 2 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code) against fourteen political prisoners accused of participating in riots on the night of August 9, 2020, in Pinsk.
29.04.2021 Volha Mayorava and Dzianis Urad are political prisoners
Joint statement of the Belarusian human rights community
28.04.2021 Viasna’s imprisoned activists win Czech Homo Homini award
The Homo Homini Award for 2020 will be presented to Marfa Rabkova, Andrei Chapiuk, Leanid Sudalenka and Tatsiana Lasitsa.
27.04.2021 “All cases are trumped up!” Aliaksandr Aranovich sentenced to six years in prison
The Lieninski District Court of Hrodna handed down a verdict in a criminal case against Aliaksandr Aranovich, a 38-year-old political prisoner affiliated with Siarhei Tsikhanouski’s campaign “Country for Living”.
26.04.2021 Viasna marks 25 years
25 years ago today, tens of thousands protested peacefully against President Aliaksandr Lukashenka's plans to usurp power. The authorities responded with violence. It was on this very day, April 26, that a group of activists led by Ales Bialiatski decided to launch an initiative which is now known as Viasna.
26.04.2021 New 'godparents' for Belarusian political prisoners
Members of Parliament from Poland, Great Britain and Germany take over godparenthood for Andrzej Poczobut, Andrei Aliaksandrau and Ihar Salavei
24.04.2021 Political prisoner Aleh Korban free after “khimiya” sentence
On April 23, the Maskoŭski District Court of Minsk sentenced Aleh Korban, leader of the civil society initiative “Alternative”, to 18 months of restricted freedom in an open penal colony (“khimiya”). The political prisoner was released in the courtroom and will be free until the sentence becomes final.
23.04.2021 MPs from Great Britain and Ireland take over godparenthood for Dzianis Zhuk, Mark Antonau and Leu Tsialipka
As part of the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou of Libereco, Nick Smith (House of Commons, Welsh Labour Party, Great Britain), Catherine West (House of Commons, Labour Party, Great Britain) and Deirdre Clune (European Parliament, Fine Gael, Ireland) have taken over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.
23.04.2021 Prison terms for Belsat TV journalists confirmed in appeal hearing
The Minsk City Court has turned down an appeal filed to challenge the court ruling of February 18 that sentenced Katsiaryna Andreyeva and Darya Chultsova to 2 years’ imprisonment.
22.04.2021 Viasna activist Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk walks free after 8 days in jail
Viasna human rights activist Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk was sentenced to 15 days but walked free early after a successful appeal hearing.
22.04.2021 Amnesty International reiterates call to release minor convict ahead of appeal hearing
Mikita Zalatarou’s case is another stark reminder of the violence that awaits people in Belarus, including minors, when they come face to face with this repressive state.
21.04.2021 Three new names on list of political prisoners
Joint statement of the Belarusian human rights community
21.04.2021 PACE urges Belarus to carry out comprehensive reform of its electoral system
PACE has urged Belarus to comprehensively reform its electoral system to bring it into line with international standards for democratic elections.
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