Observatory condemns re-arrest and arbitrary detention of Pavel Levinau
BLR 002 / 0617 / OBS 060
Arbitrary detention
Belarus
June 2, 2017
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Belarus.
Description of the situation:
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the re-arrest and arbitrary detention of Mr. Pavel Levinau, human rights defender and board member of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee.
According to the information received, on the evening of May 30, 2017, police officers arrested Mr. Pavel Levinau in Viciebsk and placed him in detention at the temporary detention facility in Viciebsk. On April 17, 2017, Judge Ina Hrabouskaya of the Kastryčnicki district of Viciebsk sentenced him to 15 days of administrative detention under article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences for participating in unauthorised protests on March 2 and 26, 2017 (see background information). The judgment against Mr. Pavel Levinau was handed down in absentia, as he was receiving treatment outside Belarus.
On May 5, after returning to Belarus, Mr. Pavel Levinau had been arrested by the police and detained until May 10, when he was taken to hospital due to high blood pressure, and later underwent a surgery, before he was finally discharged from the hospital.
The Observatory expresses its deepest concern with the conviction and detention of Mr. Levinau, as they appear to be linked to his human rights activities. Mr. Levinau notably observed the violations and arbitrary detentions which occurred in March 2017, within the framework of peaceful protests opposing Presidential Decree No. 3 “On the prevention of dependency on social aid” (see background information).
The Observatory therefore urges Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Pavel Levinauand to put an end to all forms of harassment, including at the judicial level, against him.
Background information:
Since the beginning of March, 2017, peaceful protests have erupted throughout the country to oppose President Decree n.° 3 “On the prevention of dependency on social aid” which in violation of international human rights law sanctions unemployment by imposing a penalty ranging from a fee to imprisonment on Belarusian citizens who have worked less than a certain number of days.
Peaceful protests were massively repressed with hundreds of protesters detained by the police [1].
Belarusian authorities arrested several human rights defenders who have been sentenced under article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences for “participating in an unauthorised peaceful assembly” in reprisal for their legitimate monitoring activities of observing massive violations and arbitrary detention of peaceful protesters [2].
Amongst them, Mr. Pavel Levinauwas arrested on March 26, 2017, for taking part in protests held in Vitebsk on March 25 and 26 as an observer. Suffering from a heart problem, his blood pressure increased while in detention, causing a hypertensive crisis.
Actions requested:
Please write to the authorities in Belarus, urging them to:
i. Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Pavel Levinau;
ii. Put an end to all forms of harassment, including at judicial level, against Mr. Pavel Levinau, as well as of all human rights defenders in Belarus;
iii. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Pavel Levinau, as well as of all human rights defenders in Belarus;
iv. Comply with all the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, in particular with its Articles 1, 2, 5 and 12.2;
v. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Belarus.
Paris-Geneva, June 2, 2017
[1] See FIDH Press Release, "Belarus crackdown: more than 200 arrested or detained in two weeks", March 17, 2017, https://www.fidh.org/en/region/europe-central-asia/belarus/belarus-crackdown-more-than-200-arrested-or-detained-in-two-weeks
[2] See Observatory Press Release, March 29, 2017.
