News on the topic: legislation
25.11.2011 “New legislative amendments unduly restrict fundamental rights,” warn UN experts
Three United Nations independent experts warned that the new legislative amendments recently adopted by the National Assembly of Belarus may severely and arbitrarily restrict the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and expression, and breach international law.
14.11.2011 Uladzimir Labkovich: “Bialiatski’s case started with a warning, issued to him by General Procuracy for activities on behalf of an unregistered organization”
On 15 October the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) produced a special report "On the conformity with the universal human rights standards of Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code on the rights of non-registered associations of the Republic of Belarus”. The uniqueness of this instrument lies in the fact that it was the first time when this authoritative legal commission considered only one article in a country’s law.
14.11.2011 Lukashenka signs a law which bans any protests
The new draconian law bans any protest rallies, including flash-mobs.
09.11.2011 Vitsebsk: regional authorities mock at human rights activist
Recently human rights defender Pavel Levinau has received an answer from the Vitsebsk Regional Executive Committee concerning his address to the head of the REC, Aliaksandr Kosinets. Levinau is informed that the application was reitstered and would be considered by the personnel department of the executive committee within the legally established terms. The human rights defender considers it as mockery.
27.10.2011 Draft introducing fines for accessing forbidden websites has appeared
The fine ranges from 350 thousand to one million roubles.
25.10.2011 Civil society groups petition Constitutional Court over controversial draft laws
Twenty-six civil society groups have petitioned the Constitutional Court over controversial draft laws that would extend the powers of the Committee for State Security (KGB), introduce additional restrictions on street protests and tighten penalties for political and civil society groups receiving foreign aid.
22.10.2011 Council of Republic adopts amendments to law "On Mass Events"
The law was adopted by the House of Representatives at a closed session on October 3, in two readings at a time.
21.10.2011 Open Joint letter regarding the new legislative amendments limiting freedom of assembly and association and imposing new restrictions on civil society groups in Belarus
A number of international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19, Civil Rights Defenders, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Watch, the Human Rights House Foundation, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, have addressed the Council of the Republic, the upper chamber of the Belarusian Parliament, urging the Parliament members to quash recent legislative amendments that impose limitations on freedom of assembly and association and severely restrict the work of Belarusian civil society groups, especially those working on human rights or related issues.
19.10.2011 Belarusian NGOs address Parliament on controversial draft laws
On 19 October, an appeal signed by representatives of 25 NGOs and other non-profit organizations was passed to the Council of the Republic, the Upper Chamber of the Belarusian Parliament.
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.
14.10.2011 Details of new law “On State Security Bodies”
Any protests are banned, foreign financing of organisations becomes a criminally punishable act, and the KGB would be able to burst into our homes and offices any time.
14.10.2011 On the Threat of Significant Limitations on Human Rights in Legislation
Statement by the leaders of civil society organizations in Belarus
13.10.2011 New amendments to legislation: KGB gets unlimited powers
New amendments are to tighten conditions for public and political activity in Belarus. This is provided for by the draft law “On amendments to the law of the Republic of Belarus on bodies of state security of the Republic of Belarus”.
11.10.2011 Will investigator of Bialiatski’s case get disciplinary punishment?
Human rights defender Siarhei Ustsinau appealed against the standard refusal to change the restraint to Ales Bialiatski, issued by Tatsiana Kasynkina, an investigator of the Financial Investigations Department of the State Control Committee. The Minsk City Procuracy stated that the investigator had chosen the right restraint.
05.10.2011 Belarusian government bans “mass inaction”
Members of the House of Representatives adopted amendments to the Law on mass events in two readings on 3 October. The amendments were worked out following successful mass silent actions. The draft law on mass events in the Republic of Belarus prepared by the Council of Ministers provides for asking for permission to hold mass actions and mass inaction.
