03.08.2012 Still behind bars: The plight of long-term prisoners in Belarus

One year ago on 4 August, prominent human rights defender Ales Bialiatski was arrested in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. He was sentenced to four and a half years for tax evasion charges. Amnesty International considers that he has been sentenced for carrying out his human rights activities and has declared him a prisoner of conscience.

30.07.2012 Reporters Without Borders condemns journalist Vital Ruhayn’s arrest in Minsk

“Vital Ruhayn’s arrest is indicative of the regime’s sensitivities about matters related – closely or otherwise – to the Minsk bombing and national security,” Reporters Without Borders said. “A journalist should not be arrested for highlighting police violations of security regulations. We call for the withdrawal of the trumped-up charges brought against him.”

27.07.2012 Joint Statement of 15 international MPs on the situation in Belarus

27.07.2012 Polish MEP Marek Migalski, as a participant in Libereco-Partnership for Human Rights’ Prisoner’s Godparenthood Campaign, issued a statement on the situation in Belarus, which was supported by 14 other international members of parliament. Today, they expressed their support for the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus and called upon Belarusian authorities to cease the persecution of dissidents, human rights defenders and journalists in Belarus and to release and exonerate all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.

25.07.2012 The Observatory: Travel ban imposed on “Viasna” Vice-President Valentin Stefanovich was a "mistake"

Paris-Geneva, July 25, 2012. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), welcomes the official lifting of the travel ban imposed by mistake on the Vice-President of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Viasna”, Mr. Valentin Stefanovich.

24.07.2012 Amnesty International urges Belarus to release “teddy bear” free speech activist

A photographer and journalism student faces up to seven years in prison after posting pictures of a stunt involving teddy bears to draw attention to violations of freedom of expression in Belarus, prompting Amnesty International to call for his immediate release.

20.07.2012 Urgent: UN informed about torture of political prisoners

Urgent appeals on torture of Statkevich and Dashkevich have been sent to the United Nations.

Appeals asking to investigate the facts of inhuman treatment of political prisoners Mikalai Statkevich and Zmitser Dashkevich were sent to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.

19.07.2012 Committee to Protect Journalists: KGB puts editor in jail over photos of teddy bears

New York, July 18, 2012--Belarusian security agents should immediately release a website editor who has been jailed for publishing photographs of teddy bears, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

18.07.2012 Reporters Without Borders demands to release Anton Surapin

The international organization demands the immediate release of the journalist.

12.07.2012 OSCE Chairperson strongly regrets Belarus travel ban on civil society activist

DUBLIN, 12 July 2012 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affaires Eamon Gilmore, expressed his strong regret about the Belarusian authorities’ decision to prevent a Belarusian civil society activist from travelling to an OSCE meeting in Vienna today.

05.07.2012 UN Human Rights Council resolution on situation of human righst in Belarus

Here we present to your attention the text of the document:

27.06.2012 Belarus at the UN Human Rights Council Today

Today (Wednesday 27 June), the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva discuss the situation of human rights in Belarus and the role that the international community should play. This is a decisive moment in the Council's engagement on Belarus.

27.06.2012 Committee to Protect Journalists: Belarusian authorities are taking revenge for the truth

Belarusian authorities should immediately release a critical journalist who was tried, convicted and sentenced to prison.

27.06.2012 Journalist risks jail for criticizing President: Urgent appeal by Amnesty International

A journalist, Andrzej Poczobut, is at risk of being sentenced to five years imprisonment in Belarus after being arrested for criticizing the Belarusian President. He is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression.

25.06.2012 UN Special Rapporteur Calls Freedom of Assembly Situation in Belarus Alarming

However, Switzerland and Canada were mentioned in negative context, too.

25.06.2012 Civil Rights Defenders: Protest against the treatment of Ales Bialiatski in prison

Ales Bialiatski has received reprimands in prison as well as being subjected to restrictive measures. Civil Rights Defenders is deeply concerned for Ales Bialiatski’s situation and urges the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenka to immediately and unconditionally release the Belarusian human rights defender, in an open letter sent on Thursday.