23.12.2020 Statement on sentencing of political prisoners Aliaksei Ramanau and Mikalai Charniauski
Belarusian human rights defenders call to decriminalize defamation, put an end to judicial harassment and release all political prisoners convicted of slandering or insulting officials or the president, as well as insulting state symbols
22.12.2020 Three protesters convicted in traffic obstruction trial
The Lieninski District Court of Minsk ruled today to sentence Volha Klaskouskaya to two years in prison on charges of “blocking vehicular traffic” during a demonstration on October 13. Two more defendants, Artur Bulauski and a minor Maksim Babich, were sentenced to two and a half and three years of restricted liberty (“home imprisonment”).
19.12.2020 Artsiom Sarokin is new political prisoner
Joint statement by Belarusian human rights organizations
17.12.2020 Immediately release political prisoners Tsikhan Kliukach and Safiya Malashevich
Statement by the human rights organizations of Belarus
17.12.2020 100 godparents for political prisoners in Belarus
Cem Özdemir, Member of the Bundestag and former long-time leader of Alliance 90/The Greens, is the 100th MP who takes over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus, symbolically adopting journalist Katsiaryna Barysevich.
15.12.2020 Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections issue final report on August 9 presidential election
The non-partisan observation initiative "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" has published the final analytical report on the results of observation of the 2020 presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus.
11.12.2020 National Human Rights Award winners announced
On the International Human Rights Day, December 10, a coalition of human rights organizations of Belarus held a ceremony in Minsk to present the annual National Human Rights Awards.
09.12.2020 New report on post-election protests presented in Minsk. Full English text
A coalition of Belarusian human rights defenders presented today a report entitled “Belarus. August 2020: “Justice” for Protesters.” It highlights violations of the standards of a fair trial after tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators protested the rigged presidential election and thousands were detained en masse and were convicted in August 2020.
08.12.2020 “We Will Not Forget”: Prison sentences for writing on pavement
The Frunzienski District Court of Minsk sentenced today Maksim Pauliushchyk to two years in prison for spray-painting “We Will Not Forget” on the pavement near the Puškinskaja metro station as a sign of remembrance of protester Aliaksandr Taraikouski who died on the spot on August 10, reportedly from a rubber bullet fired by a law enforcement officer.
07.12.2020 Swiss national gets 2 ½ years in prison for tearing balaclava off riot policeman
Natallia Hersche, a Belarus-born 51-year-old Swiss national, has been sentenced today to two and a half years in prison for removing a balaclava from a riot police officer during a protest on September 19.
04.12.2020 15 new names on list of political prisoners
Joint statement by Belarusian human rights organizations
03.12.2020 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: November 2020
The authorities continued to actively prosecute citizens for political reasons. There are 146 political prisoners held in prisons, as their number continues to increase. A total of over 900 individuals have been targeted by criminal cases during the presidential campaign and in the post-election period.
03.12.2020 Political prisoner Andrei Novikau released, deported to Russia
Political prisoner Andrei Novikau has been released and deported to Russia, whose passport he holds, RFE/RL’s Belarus service said.
02.12.2020 Political prisoner Aleh Mazhou free on bail
Political prisoner Aleh Mazhou has been released on own recognizance after spending three months in pre-trial detention. Mazhou will remain under travel restrictions before trial.
01.12.2020 Release political prisoner Uladzislau Hulis
Joint statement by Belarusian human rights organizations