European HR organizations condemn detention of Viasna activists
To:
Mr. Alexander Lukashenko
President of the Republic of Belarus
Fax: (375 17) 226 06 10
March 25, 2010
Civil Rights Defenders (Sweden), Belarusian Human Rights House (Lithuania), Human Rights House
Foundation (Norway) and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee condemn the detention of the activists of
the Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’ Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich and Iryna Toustsik, as yet
another case in which the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech are severely restricted by
Belarusian authorities.
The three activists from the Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’ were arrested on 23 March 2010 in Minsk for
holding a peaceful protest against death penalty and the execution of two recent death sentences. On
24 March 2010 the arrested protesters were convicted by a court of violation of the Civil Code and fined.
The two death sentences were pronounced in the mid of negotiations that the government of the
Republic of Belarus is having with the Council of Europe, in order to declare a moratorium on the death
penalty.
The freedom of assembly and expression are fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the
Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR), ratified by the Republic of Belarus on 12 November 1973. Article 21 of the ICCPR states; “the
right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this
right other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic
society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of
public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.”
Although freedom of assembly is provided for under Belarusian law, the authorities have in a number of
cases decided not to give permission to hold peaceful assemblies. This practice is not in line with Article
21 of the ICCPR and is therefore a violation of the freedom of assembly.
We urge the authorities of the Republic of Belarus to protect and promote the rights and freedoms of
citizens enshrined in the national legislation and the international treaties to which the country is a party.
We call upon the Belarusian authorities to put an end to the harassment against all human rights defenders,
including at the judicial level.
Sincerely,
Civil Rights Defenders
Norwegian Helsinki Committee
Human Rights House Foundation
Belarusian Human Rights House in exile in Vilnius
Copy to:
Mr. Viktor Golovanov
Minister of Justice of the Republic of Belarus
Tel./fax: (375 17) 2009755
Mr. Grigory VASILEVICH
Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus
Fax: +375 17 226 42 52
E-mail: info@prokuratura.gov.by
Mr. Valentin Sukalo
Chairman Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus
Tel./fax: (375 17) 227 12 25
E-mail: scjustrb@pmrb.gov.by