Two years after: Political prisoners are still behind bars, human rights violated
Human
rights defenders describe the human rights situation in 2012 as "consistently
poor", just like it was back in 2011. The ongoing suppressing of civil and
political rights, administrative and criminal proceedings against the regime's
opponents continue.
December 19, 2010 – the day of the presidential election – was the date that
became a point of no return when mass arrests, torture in prisons and
lawlessness on the part of security forces entered the life of Belarusians.
After the presidential election and the wave of arrests in Independence Square,
the Human Rights Center "Viasna" released a statement regarding the
violation of human rights of people in detention followed by disregard of the rights
of those standing trials and those being held in detention centers and prisons.
On December 19 at least 30,000 peaceful protests marched from Kastrychnitskaya
Square in Minsk towards the Government House in Independence Square. The march
was followed by a meeting. Unknown persons whose actions were condemned by
candidates attempted to break the door to the government building. This allowed
the riot police in helmets with shields and truncheons to use excessive force
and violence for the crackdown on the peaceful demonstrators. Protesters were badly
beaten. Many protesters were taken to hospitals, more than 600 people were
detained and later sentenced to administrative arrests or fines under Art.
23.34 of the Administrative Code – a violation of mass events procedures.
Among those detained were the presidential candidates Andrei Sannikau, Ryhor Kastusiou,
Vital Rymasheuski, Mikalai Statkevich, their election agents, politicians,
journalists, civil society leaders, as well as chairman of BHC, coordinator of
the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" Aleh Hulak .
The actions of the police to disperse the demonstration were clearly
disproportionate. The use of physical force and special equipment led to a
large number of wounded among the peaceful protesters.
Shortly after the protest, the office of the HRC "Viasna" was raided
by the police, resulting in 10 people being detained. The human rights defenders
were however later released. Still, all the computer equipment was seized from the
office. Later, a search was conducted in the office of "Charter'97." Opposition
leaders were detained, too.
The number of detainees thus exceeded 700 persons.
The criminal case initiated by the KGB under Par. 1 and 2 of Art. 293 of the Criminal
Code (“rioting”) was used exclusively for the long-term isolation of the
democratic leaders of the opposition movement, as well as to pressure and
intimidate independent civil society throughout the country, free journalists
and the media, human rights defenders, and all dissidents in the country. The
number of political prisoners in the country reached a record number during the
period of 16 years of Lukashenka's rule. To date, five of them are still behind
bars: Mikalai Statkevich, Pavel Seviarynets, Zmitser Dashkevich, Eduard Lobau
and Vasil Parfiankou. Other political prisoners were released, having been
forced to sign petitions for Lukashenka’s pardon. While in prison, they were
subjected to physical and psychological torture.
Dozens of European organizations condemned the actions of the Belarusian
authorities. On December 20, an open letter to the president of Belarus calling
to release hundreds of protesters, journalists and politicians detained for the
peaceful expression of their beliefs was signed by the members of the Human
Rights House Network. Similar appeals were released by the human rights
organization "Amnesty International", the International Federation
for Human Rights (FIDH), International Federation of Journalists, the human
rights organization “Freedom House”, European Parliament’s President Jerzy
Buzek, the governments of the U.S. and the EU.
The Committee of International Control over the Human Rights Situation in
Belarus was deployed in Minsk, following a decision by a coalition of
non-governmental organizations of the OSCE. The committee included some 30
international organizations: International Civil Initiative for the OSCE (ICI
OSCE), the Moscow Helsinki Group – MHG (Russia), International Network
"Freedom, Legality and Rights in Europe" (FLARE), International Youth
Human Rights Movement etc.
Since 19 December 2010, the country has witnessed a sharp increase in the wave
of politically motivated repression and human rights violations. There are
numerous signs of a return of the Belarusian authorities to rigid and repressive
methods against political parties, civil society, and independent media.