Human rights defenders insist on negotiations with administration of law-enforcement agencies
On 19 February, members of the Belarusian human rights organizations and movements submitted to the heads of different law-enforcement agencies a written request to enter proposals concerning the format, time and place of negotiations and delegate their representatives for participation in them.
The collective address of the Belarusian human rights organization reads: ‘on 18 February 2010 the organizing committee of representatives of the Belarusian human rights organizations submitted to You (or an authorized person of the organization headed by You) an invitation to take pat in negotiations concerning freedom of assemblies and enforcement of law during peaceful mass actions.
The necessity of such negotiations arises from the actions of officers of law-enforcement agencies during the peaceful assemblies on 8, 14 and 16 February and the situation of the Union of Poles in Belarus. The beginning of the negotiations was appointed on 11a.m. – 1p.m. at the hall of the Europe Hotel.
The organizing committee invited representatives of foreign Embassies, the OSCE mission in Minsk and the European Commission for monitoring the negotiations. Mass media were invited for public information and ensuring the openness of the negotiations.
Since 11a.m. on 19 February 2010 the organizing committee in full force has been waiting for the beginning of the negotiations at the entrance of the Europe Hotel.
Despite the fact that none of the invited representatives of the law-enforcement agencies came to the place of the negotiations on 19 February 2010, we consider it necessary to inform You abou he questions that cause a great concern of human rights defenders as a result of analysis of the actions of law-enforcement agencies on enforcement of law during peaceful assemblies of citizens:
- the renewal of the practice of unlawful preventive detentions before the beginning of peaceful assemblies outside the places where the peaceful assemblies are held;
- arbitrary detentions and groundless and disproportionate usage of physical violence during detentions in the places of peaceful assemblies;
- creation of obstacles to professional activities of mass media at peaceful assemblies;
- cruel treatment of detainees during their transportation to the police departments;
- the practice of the judicial, departmental and prosecutorial control of unlawful actions of officers of law-enforcement agencies.
We consider he dialogue on the aforementioned questions as the first necessary action aimed at normalization of the situation concerning the ensuring of the civil right to peaceful assemblies in conformity with the international undertakings of the Republic of Belarus in this sphere of legal relations.
In view of the above,
we ask You to express Your proposals on the format, time and place of the negotiations and delegate Your representatives for participation in this work.’
The organizing committee that initiated the negotiations includes Ales Bialiatski (the Human Rights Center Viasna), Ina Kulei (the Solidarity Committee), Aleh Hulak (the Belarusian Helsinki Committee), Alena Tankachova (educational institution Center of Legal Transformation), Tatsiana Reviaka (Belarusian Human Rights House), Raisa Mikhailouskaya (Center on Human Rights), Aleh Volchak (Legal Assistance to Population).
The addresses were submitted to Kuliashou Anatol Nilavich, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Belarus, Major General of police; Vasilevich Ryhor Aliakseyevich, Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus; Yushkevich Aliaksandr Mikalayevich, Chairperson of the Commission on human rights, national relations and mass media of the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly; Zaitsau Vadzim Yuryievich, Chairperson of the State Security Committee (KGB) of the Republic of Belarus; colonel Kalach Uladzimir Viktaravich, Chairperson of the KGB department in Minsk and the Minsk oblast; colonel Lukomski Aliaksandr Valiantsinavich, commander of the special-purpose police regiment of the main bureau of internal affairs of the Minsk city executive committee; General Major of police Farmahei Leanid Kanstantsinavich, Chairperson of the main bureau of internal affairs of the Minsk city executive committee; and Kulik Mikalai Mikalayevich, Prosecutor of Minsk.
