News for November 2021

#FreeViasna: Weekly news digest on Viasna’s imprisoned human rights defenders

22.11.2021 #FreeViasna: Weekly news digest on Viasna’s imprisoned human rights defenders

On September 17, dozens of Belarusian and international human rights groups launched #FreeViasna, the campaign of solidarity with the imprisoned human rights activists of Viasna. Here’s the latest news about the Viasna members held behind bars.

HRDs call on ODIHR to protect Russia's Memorial HRC and Memorial International ahead of liquidation hearing

22.11.2021 HRDs call on ODIHR to protect Russia's Memorial HRC and Memorial International ahead of liquidation hearing

Public call by human rights and other organizations in the OSCE region due to the intention of the Russian authorities to wind up two oldest human rights organizations in the country

Man with Parkinson’s and brain pacemaker beaten and imprisoned in Babrujsk

22.11.2021 Man with Parkinson’s and brain pacemaker beaten and imprisoned in Babrujsk

There’s a high risk that if the neurostimulator in his head stops working, he might just die.

#FreedomLetters: Lithuanian MFA and Viasna arrange event of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners

21.11.2021 #FreedomLetters: Lithuanian MFA and Viasna arrange event of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners

On November 20, within the framework of the Future of Democracy forum in Vilnius, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry and Viasna arranged an event of signing postcards for Belarusian political prisoners #FreedomLetters.

Human rights groups insist on retrials and release of three more convicts

19.11.2021 Human rights groups insist on retrials and release of three more convicts

Joint statement of the Belarusian human rights community

BelaPAN chief editor and ex-director face up to 7 years in prison on “extremism” charges

19.11.2021 BelaPAN chief editor and ex-director face up to 7 years in prison on “extremism” charges

BelaPAN editor-in-chief Iryna Leushyna and ex-director Dzmitry Navazhylau were charged with “creating an extremist formation”

Worried about being "half-educated". Studentship of Marfa Rabkova

19.11.2021 Worried about being "half-educated". Studentship of Marfa Rabkova

On the International Student’s Day, Viasna tells a story of Marfa Rabkova and the efforts she had to take to receive an education.

MPs from Germany and Switzerland adopt political prisoners Ihar Losik, Valeryia Kastsiuhova and Viachaslau Sheliamet

18.11.2021 MPs from Germany and Switzerland adopt political prisoners Ihar Losik, Valeryia Kastsiuhova and Viachaslau Sheliamet

As part of Libereco’s solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou, Robin Wagener (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens), Stéfanie Prezioso (Swiss National Council, Ensemble à Gauche) and Sebastian Brehm (German Bundestag, Christian Social Union) have taken on a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.

BAJ demands to stop using anti-extremist legislation to restrict freedom of speech

18.11.2021 BAJ demands to stop using anti-extremist legislation to restrict freedom of speech

On 1 November 2021, Belarusian KGB recognized the BelaPAN news agency as an extremist formation, and on November 3, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus announced the same status of the Belsat TV channel.

Human rights defenders call to release 5 persons held on "extremism" and "hooliganism" charges

18.11.2021 Human rights defenders call to release 5 persons held on "extremism" and "hooliganism" charges

Statement by the human rights community of Belarus

Front Line Defenders call to release woman human rights defender Olga Gorbunova

17.11.2021 Front Line Defenders call to release woman human rights defender Olga Gorbunova

On 9 November 2021, police arrested woman human rights defender Olga Gorbunova in Minsk in relation to her alleged involvement in organising marches supporting women’s rights in the summer of 2020.

Amnesty International: Write to demand urgent medical assistance for Marfa Rabkova

17.11.2021 Amnesty International: Write to demand urgent medical assistance for Marfa Rabkova

Despite worrying symptoms and a deterioration of her health, the prison authorities have been denying her requests for medical care for months, including urgent dental treatment.

7 new names on list of political prisoners

16.11.2021 7 new names on list of political prisoners

Statement by the human rights community of Belarus

Viasna alerts UN Special Rapporteurs to violations of detainees’ rights in Zeltser case

16.11.2021 Viasna alerts UN Special Rapporteurs to violations of detainees’ rights in Zeltser case

Acting on behalf of the detainees in the “Zeltser case”, human rights defenders of Viasna wrote to several UN Special Rapporteurs on the issue of cruel and inhuman treatment after their arrest and during detention in Žodzina pre-trial prison No. 8.

Medical student imprisoned for 4 years for running protest account on Telegram

16.11.2021 Medical student imprisoned for 4 years for running protest account on Telegram

Political prisoner Uladzislau Martsinovich, a 21-year-old student at the Belarusian State Medical University, was sentenced yesterday to 4 years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony for creating and administering a Telegram channel called “White Coats”.

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