News on the topic: human rights defenders
15.07.2021 Civic Solidarity Platform calls for more decisive action by international community against Lukashenka's regime
The Civic Solidarity Platform issued a statement today, in which its members urged the international community to take more decisive actions against the Lukashenka regime.
15.07.2021 Statement: detained "Viasna" members and social activists are political prisoners
Joint statement of Belarusian human rights organizations
15.07.2021 Observatory for Protection of Human Rights Defenders issues urgent appeal on coordinated searches and detentions in Belarus
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has been informed about the ongoing coordinated searches and arbitrary arrests of journalists and human rights defenders and requests your action.
15.07.2021 International human rights organizations condemn newest wave of repressions against civil society in Belarus
Civil Rights Defenders and Front Line Defenders issued statements in support of the civil society under pressure in Belarus.
14.07.2021 "We will not stop our human rights activities." Statement by Human Rights Center "Viasna"
On 14 July 2021, the Belarusian authorities again attacked human rights organizations and other NGOs, human rights defenders, and activists. Viasna condemns the new wave of repression against members of our organization and civil society in Belarus and declare that we will not stop our human rights activities.
14.07.2021 Viasna and other human rights defenders in Belarus under attack
On July 14 the law enforcement officers came with searches to the human rights activists of "Viasna" and many other human rights organizations.
06.07.2021 HRDs demand investigation into torture and ill-treatment of Mikalai Dziadok and other prisoners
In light of the shocking details of torture and ill-treatment by GUBOP officers, voiced by Mikalai Dziadok in court on 1 July 2021, representatives of the Belarusian human rights community urge the General Prosecutor's Office and the Investigative Committee to institute criminal proceedings, identify those responsible for torture and ill-treatment and take measures to hold them responsible.
23.06.2021 Details of the charges against Viasna's human right defender in Homieĺ: trial is likely to happen in July
The preliminary investigation of Leanid Sudalenka' case has been completed - he is getting acquainted with the 77-volume materials of the case.
28.04.2021 Viasna’s imprisoned activists win Czech Homo Homini award
The Homo Homini Award for 2020 will be presented to Marfa Rabkova, Andrei Chapiuk, Leanid Sudalenka and Tatsiana Lasitsa.
26.04.2021 Viasna marks 25 years
25 years ago today, tens of thousands protested peacefully against President Aliaksandr Lukashenka's plans to usurp power. The authorities responded with violence. It was on this very day, April 26, that a group of activists led by Ales Bialiatski decided to launch an initiative which is now known as Viasna.
22.04.2021 Viasna activist Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk walks free after 8 days in jail
Viasna human rights activist Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk was sentenced to 15 days but walked free early after a successful appeal hearing.
15.04.2021 Viasna human rights activist Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk jailed in Baranavičy, goes on hunger strike
Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk, activist of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” in Baranavičy, was sentenced to 15 days in prison. However, it is still unknown what charges he faced.
12.04.2021 Immediately release political prisoner Tatsiana Hatsura-Yavorskaya!
Joint statement of Belarusian human rights organizations
10.04.2021 Observatory condemns new cases of judicial harassment of human rights defenders in Belarus
The Observatory has been informed about the judicial harassment against Enira Branitskaya, lawyer and human rights expert, having cooperated with Human Constanta, as well as of the arbitrary detention of Natallia Trenina, Tatsiana Hatsura-Yavorskaya, Yuliya Semenchanka and Hanna Sakalouskaya, and the arbitrary detention and subsequent release of Volha Shapakouskaya, five members of the Belarusian public association ‘Zvyano’ (“Chain” in English), amid the ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders and organisations in Belarus.
09.04.2021 Ales Bialiatski questioned in Viasna case
Ales Bialiatski, chairman of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, has been questioned as a witness in what is known as the “Viasna case”, a criminal investigation into the organization’s alleged involvement in the financing of the 2020 post-election protests.
