24.01.2012 EU set to broaden criteria for imposing sanctions on Belarusian officials

The European Union's foreign ministers agreed at their meeting on Monday to broaden the criteria for imposing "restrictive measures" on Belarusian persons and entities in response to human rights abuse and the persecution of the government's political opponents.

16.01.2012 MEPs consider Ales Bialiatski’s case

The delegation of the International Federation for Human Rights took part in the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee meeting to discuss the situation in Belarus held in Brussels on 12 January.

19.12.2011 USA and EU call on Belarus to release political prisoners

It is said in the joint statement of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and European Union's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.

16.12.2011 EU expands sanctions against Belarus after Byalyatski's trial

The EU's press-center has informed that two officials who participated in the trial against HR defender Ales Byalyatski were included into the "black list".

01.12.2011 AI and EU speak against execution of persons charged with terrorist attack in Minsk metro

After the verdict of the Supreme Court of Belarus to Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou has become known, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland has called upon Belarusian authorities not to carry into execution the judgment of death. BelaPAN has been informed about that by the press-service of the Council of Europe.

29.11.2011 STATEMENT OF THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM

On 24 November, in Belarus, a politically motivated verdict was pronounced against a prominent human rights defender, leader of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Ales Bialiatski. He was found guilty of alleged “tax evasion on a large scale” and sentenced to four and a half years of imprisonment in a high security penal colony with confiscation of property.

24.11.2011 EP President condemns sentencing of Byalyatski

Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament, condemns the sentencing of human rights activist Ales Byalyatski and calls on the Belarusian authorities to release him.

23.11.2011 Joint Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle on the trial of Human Rights defender Ales Byalyatski

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, and Stefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, made today the following statement:

“We are seriously concerned about the detention and prosecution of internationally renownedBelarusian human rights defender Ales Byalyatski for alleged tax evasion. "

28.10.2011 Court bans Bialiatski’s meeting with wife

Minsk court has not authorized Ales Bialiatski’s meeting with his wife ahead of the trial he is to stand on 2 November, Radio Racyja reports.

26.10.2011 Polish MEP calls for support of imprisoned opposition politician Bandarenka

Marek Migalski, a Polish member of the European Parliament, has called on the EP and Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, to support opposition politician Dzmitry Bandarenka who is serving a prison term in connection with last December’s post-election protest in Minsk.

19.10.2011 EU delegation urges Belarus not to pass “some repressive draft laws”

The European Union Delegation to Belarus has issued a statement urging the Belarusian authorities not to pass “some repressive draft laws” that “would severely limit the freedoms and rights of Belarusian citizens and represent a step backwards as regards Belarus’ respect for human rights and the rule of law”, the BelaPAN news agency reports.

30.09.2011 EU leaders issue declaration condemning Belarus for its "deteriorating" human rights record

The leaders of the European Union’s member countries issued a declaration condemning Belarus for its "deteriorating" record on human rights and rule of law as a result of the September 29-30 EU Eastern Partnership summit in Warsaw after the delegations of five post-Soviet nations participating in the Eastern Partnership – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine – had spoken out against including a paragraph to this effect in the summit’s joint declaration.

26.09.2011 Radoslaw Sikorski: Rehabilitation of all political prisoners needed

The European Union will adhere to its principles and insist on full rehabilitation of all Belarusian political prisoners.

22.09.2011 Maira Mora: President assured - release of political prisoners will go on

Renewal of the dialogue between Belarus and the EU is possible only after release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners.

21.09.2011 UN reiterates demands to release Ales Bialiatski

On 20 September, the International Federation of Human Rights and the Human Rights House Foundation held a side-event on the criminal prosecution of Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski.