News for April 2021
21.04.2021 Death penalty 2020: Despite Covid-19, some countries ruthlessly pursued death sentences and executions
While there was an overall trend of decline, some countries pursued or even increased the number of executions carried out, indicating a chilling disregard for human life at a time when the world’s attention focused on protecting people from a deadly virus.
20.04.2021 HRDs demand retrials and release of 3 more political prisoners
Joint statement of the Belarusian human rights community
20.04.2021 Political prisoner Aleksandr Gedzhadze sentenced to 3 years in prison
The Frunzienski District Court of Minsk announced today its verdict in a criminal case against political prisoner Aleksandr Gedzhadze charged under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (group actions that grossly violate public order). Judge Andrei Mlechka sentenced the Russian national to three years in a general-security penal colony.
20.04.2021 Three years of home confinement for mother of three: political prisoner Hanna Sunhurava convicted
The Pieršamajskaha District Court of Minsk has handed down a verdict in the criminal case of political prisoner Hanna Sunhurava. She was accused of committing a crime under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
19.04.2021 “Actions of a man who was not heard”: political prisoner Viktar Losik sentenced to 4 years in prison
Judge Katsiaryna Novikava of the Minsk District Court sentenced today political prisoner Viktar Losik to four years in a general-security penal colony, finding him guilty under Art. 339 and 341 of the Criminal Code, “hooliganism” and “vandalizing buildings and damage to property,” respectively.
19.04.2021 Viasna issues new report on protest-related administrative cases
Viasna’s lawyers and analysts have prepared and published a report entitled “Politically Motivated Administrative Proceedings: Standards and Reality in Contemporary Belarus”.
15.04.2021 Viasna human rights activist Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk jailed in Baranavičy, goes on hunger strike
Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk, activist of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” in Baranavičy, was sentenced to 15 days in prison. However, it is still unknown what charges he faced.
14.04.2021 Amnetsy International calls to release minor sentenced to five years imprisonment after unfair trial
On 22 February 2021, 17-year-old Mikita Zalatarou was sentenced to five years in a correctional colony after a trial marred with irregularities, for allegedly “organizing mass disorder” and having thrown a molotov cocktail at the feet of two riot policemen.
14.04.2021 Critical bloggers Piatrukhin and Kabanau sentenced to three years in prison
The Kastryčnicki District Court of Mahilioŭ ruled today in a criminal case against Brest-based bloggers Siarhei Piatrukhin and Aliaksandr Kabanau.
13.04.2021 MPs from Germany, Denmark and the UK take over godparenthood for Viktar Siadou, Yauhen Kurhanau and Mikita Zalatarou
As part of the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou of Libereco, Klaus Mindrup (Bundestag, SPD, Germany), Karen Melchior (European Parliament, Radikale Venstre, Denmark) and Lord Griffiths of Burry Port (British Upper House, Labour Party, Great Britain) have taken over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.
12.04.2021 Immediately release political prisoner Tatsiana Hatsura-Yavorskaya!
Joint statement of Belarusian human rights organizations
10.04.2021 Observatory condemns new cases of judicial harassment of human rights defenders in Belarus
The Observatory has been informed about the judicial harassment against Enira Branitskaya, lawyer and human rights expert, having cooperated with Human Constanta, as well as of the arbitrary detention of Natallia Trenina, Tatsiana Hatsura-Yavorskaya, Yuliya Semenchanka and Hanna Sakalouskaya, and the arbitrary detention and subsequent release of Volha Shapakouskaya, five members of the Belarusian public association ‘Zvyano’ (“Chain” in English), amid the ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders and organisations in Belarus.
09.04.2021 11 new names on list of political prisoners
Joint statement by the human rights organizations of Belarus
09.04.2021 Ales Bialiatski questioned in Viasna case
Ales Bialiatski, chairman of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, has been questioned as a witness in what is known as the “Viasna case”, a criminal investigation into the organization’s alleged involvement in the financing of the 2020 post-election protests.
09.04.2021 Political prisoner Vital Shcherbich sentenced to four years in prison
Judge Anzhela Kastsiukevich of the Zavodski District Court of Minsk sentenced today political prisoner Vital Shcherbich to four years in a medium-security penal colony, finding him guilty of preparing for mass riots (Part 1 of Art. 13 and Part 2 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code).
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