News on the topic: freedom of peaceful assembly
12.10.2020 600 detained in violent dispersal of Sunday protests
Some 600 people were detained following yesterday’s protests held in Minsk and other cities of Belarus. Most of them were arrested in the capital during the violent dispersal of a peaceful gathering in central Minsk in the afternoon and a series of smaller protests held in the city’s districts in the evening.
09.10.2020 HRW: Belarus Uses Children to Pressure Dissenting Parents
Judicial Harassment, Threatened Loss of Custody
08.10.2020 Human rights activists present report on human rights situation after August 9 election
On Thursday, October 8, representatives of the Belarusian human rights coalition presented a report entitled “Belarus After Election”, which contains information about the human rights situation in Belarus in the post-election period. The experts focused on the rights to life, personal freedom and humane treatment, as well as freedom from torture. The report also touches on violations of the rights of journalists and children.
06.10.2020 Courts convict participants in Sunday protest
A total of 188 persons have been convicted of “illegal protesting” following their involvement in the March for the Liberation of Political Prisoners held on October 4.
06.10.2020 Belarusian human rights activists submit report to OSCE Moscow Mechanism
A coalition of human rights organizations has prepared a report on human rights violations in Belarus in the post-election period. The report has been submitted to a rapporteur appointed under the OSCE Moscow Mechanism.
05.10.2020 250 detained in eighth weekly post-election protest
Some 250 protesters were detained during yesterday’s demonstrations held in Minsk and other cities of Belarus, including Brest, Salihorsk, Mahilioŭ, Babrujsk and Hrodna.
01.10.2020 Amnesty International: Free LGBT+ activist Victoria Biran
On 26 September human rights activist Victoria Biran was detained on her way to the Women’s March in Minsk. Two days later she was sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention which she is serving at the infamous detention centre on Akrestina street which has become synonymous with torture. In numerous similar cases the detention has been extended. As an LGBT+ activist, Victoria Biran is at heightened risk of ill-treatment. She is a prisoner of conscience and must be released immediately and unconditionally.
30.09.2020 Convicted protesters in Maladziečna are political prisoners
Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community on the sentencing of Uladzislau Yeustsihneyeu and Pavel Piaskou
28.09.2020 Day 50 of protests marred by new detentions
At least 340 persons were detained during yesterday’s protests held in a dozen cities across Belarus. Some 250 demonstrators were detained in Minsk. There were detentions in Mahilioŭ, Hrodna, Viciebsk, Brest, Salihorsk, Maladziečna, Žodzina, Orša, Baranavičy and others.
24.09.2020 300 detained in protests across Belarus
According to Viasna’s database, at least three hundred protesters were detained last night across the country, as thousands of people protested the unannounced inauguration of Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
21.09.2020 Woman suffers leg fracture after violent detention in Homieĺ protest
A 48-year-old woman was diagnosed with a broken leg after she was pushed by a riot police officer during a brutal detention at yesterday’s protest in Homieĺ.
21.09.2020 Police detain 237 protesters in Sunday March of Justice
According to Viasna’s database, security forces detained 237 people during a series of demonstrations held yesterday across the country. Tens of thousands protested in a dozen cities despite heavy police presence, including water cannons, armored vehicles and other riot gear.
20.09.2020 Over 400 detained in women’s protest in Minsk
415 protesters were detained during yesterday’s Women’s March in Minsk, according to the Interior Ministry’s spokesperson. Viasna knows the names of 390 detained demonstrators, most of them women.
14.09.2020 Over 500 detained in Sunday protests across Belarus
Over five hundred protesters were detained yesterday in various cities of Belarus, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Viasna knows the names of 436 persons who attended another event in a series of weekly demonstrations.
12.09.2020 UN chief deeply concerned over use of force against peaceful protesters in Belarus
Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday expressed deep concern over the continued use of force against peaceful protestors in Belarus and detention of those exercising their legitimate democratic rights.
