News on the topic: freedom of peaceful assembly
08.08.2020 Two protesters in hospital after violent dispersal of cycling rally in Minsk
At least six people were detained last night after riot police and internal troops dispersed a cycling protest in central Minsk.
06.08.2020 FIDH and Viasna: As Protests Continue Ahead of Presidential Election, Authorities Must Refrain from Violence
Local human rights groups warn that the mobilisation of the military ahead of the August 9th elections could lead to further escalation of violence. FIDH and Viasna Human Rights Centre call on the Belarusian authorities to refrain from using violence against peaceful protesters and to ensure transparency throughout the electoral process.
03.08.2020 Amnesty International: Armed forces have no business in dealing with protests
On 24 July, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka publicly stated that he was prepared to use the Armed Forces to “restore order” and put down street protests and demonstrations. This remark was made in the context of an upcoming presidential election on 9 August, in which the incumbent will be seeking re-election for his sixth term. It follows weeks of mass protests against electoral violations across the country, all of them peaceful except those that were brutally dispersed by the authorities which resulted in isolated incidents of police-provoked violence.
28.07.2020 Protect peaceful protesters in Belarus
People around the world are deeply disturbed by images, video footage and reports coming out of Belarus, which expose a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters. Sign the petition demanding that police violence ends now.
20.07.2020 UN human rights chief urges Belarus to release peaceful protesters
According to information from various NGO and media sources, over 300 people, including a dozen journalists covering the protests, were detained by police during protests on 14 and 15 July.
15.07.2020 Amnesty International: Mass arrests during peaceful gatherings violated protesters’ rights and provoked violence
The people who have gathered to denounce the elimination of opposition presidential candidates from the election list have every right to take to the streets. Peaceful protest is an essential way of exercising the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
15.07.2020 280 detained in protests across Belarus
At least 280 people were detained by the police yesterday evening after hundreds demonstrated against the Central Election Commission’s decision to disqualify two of the incumbent Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s key rivals in the upcoming presidential election.
13.07.2020 Russian national facing charges in Tsikhanouski case
Dmitry Popov, moderator of several social media accounts affiliated with Siarhei Tsikhanouski’s YouTube channel “A Country For Living”, has been charged under Part 1, Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (preparation for or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
10.07.2020 Immediately release Pavel Seviarynets!
Joint statement of human rights and other civil society organizations of Belarus
06.07.2020 Amnesty International calls to release veteran activist Pavel Seviarynets
Amnesty International has launched an urgent action forcing the Belarusian authorities to release known opposition activist Pavel Seviarynets who is reportedly ill-treated while serving 75 days of administrative detention.
26.06.2020 Four critical bloggers charged in Tsikhanouski case
Four bloggers known for their criticism of the current government have been charged under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (group actions that grossly disturb public order) and are facing up to three years in prison
24.06.2020 HRHF: Crackdown by Belarusian Authorities on Opposition Figures, Peaceful Protesters, and Journalists
Human Rights House Foundation strongly condemns the actions in recent days of the Belarusian authorities to violently suppress peaceful protests, silence independent journalists, and intimidate members of the political opposition. These actions represent gross violations of the fundamental freedoms of association, assembly, and expression and attacks on human rights defenders.
23.06.2020 Viasna activist sentenced to short prison term in Babrujsk
Siarzhuk Latsinski, Viasna’s activist in Babrujsk, has been sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention on charges of involvement in a protest staged on June 19.
22.06.2020 Over 200 peaceful protesters, journalists, rights defenders detained across Belarus
Some 200 peaceful protesters, as well as reporters and human rights defenders, were detained by the police over the weekend, as thousands of people protested the arrest of presidential nominee Viktar Babaryka and his son Eduard.
18.06.2020 Violence, threats, detentions. Human rights activists complain to UN special rapporteurs
The Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" have written to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and a number of UN thematic rapporteurs asking them to take all appropriate measures to assist in improving the current human rights situation in Belarus and also in securing fair and democratic elections.
