Statement of Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’: Authorities again showed complete disregard of human rights
On 9 September 2009 in Minsk a peaceful action of the citizens who came to Kastrychnitskaya Square of Minsk to express their opinion concerning the participation of the Russian military forces in the joint Bealrusian-Russian military training, was dispersed with an exceptional violence.
More than 20 persons were detained by police. 17 of them received administrative penalties for participation in ‘unauthorized event’.
The detentions were accompanied with the use of physical violence and police gear against participants of the peaceful assembly. Moreover, according to the information of the Human Rights Center Viasna, police officers used tortures towards the detained persons. During their stay in the police transport and the building of Tsentralny district police department of Minsk the detained persons were subject to physical violence and cruel and inhuman treatment.
Human Rights Center Viasna expresses its decisive protest against it and considers these actions of the Belarusian authorities as another case of human rights abuses.
Freedom of peaceful assemblies and freedom of expression are among the fundamental principles of a democratic society. Their systematic violation witnesses the reluctance of the Belarusian authorities to conduct real democratic reforms in the country.
The use of torture towards the detained citizens is especially alarming. It’s worth noting that the prosecutorial organs evade giving the due legal evaluation of such actions and don’t draw the protractors to the legal responsibility which, in its turn, leads to the perception of impunity of some police officers and results in relapse of such disappointing cases.
Human Rights Center Viasna instistently calls the Belarusian authorities to demonstrate their orientation on democracy ensure the practical implementation of the international undertakings of Belarus in the sphere of human rights.
Human Rights Center Viasna calls on the prosecutorial organs to check the facts of the abuse of the duty powers by police officers and punish the protractors according to the law.
Council of Human Rights Center Viasna
