02.10.2020 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: September 2020
During the month, the authorities actively applied criminal prosecution for political reasons. Seventy-four political prisoners continued to be held in detention, and the number continues to grow. The total number of citizens held in criminal cases during the electoral and post-electoral periods has reached 242.
01.10.2020 Ales Bialiatski and Viasna win Right Livelihood Award
The Swedish Right Livelihood Foundation named today the winners of its annual award, popularly called the Alternative Nobel Prize. This year’s laureates include the Human Rights Center "Viasna" and its chairman Ales Bialiatski.
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
30.09.2020 "One of them beats you and the other aims at you with a machine gun." Survivor stories
28-year-old Minsk resident Uladzislau Salavey, a kindergarten teacher assistant, was detained on August 9 and placed in the detention center in Akrescin Street. There, he was sentenced to 14 days of arrest and then transferred to a compulsory rehabilitation center near Sluck to serve his time. Uladzislau told "Viasna" what he and others had to go through in those five days of detention.
29.09.2020 Two protesters go to prison over violence in election picket
Two men in Maladziečna, a city 70 kms northeast of Minsk, were found guilty today of using violence against riot police officers during a protest held on June 19. Pavel Piaskou, 31, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison, and Uladzislau Yeustsihneyeu, 25, was sentenced to three years, both under Art. 363, Part 2 of the Criminal Code.
29.09.2020 "They took away my bra with a breast prosthesis." Survivor stories
Maryia Ambrosava from Minsk told Viasna how she and her husband Yury went to a police station on August 10th to report their son missing, but found themselves in a police van and spent four days in the detention center in Akrescin Street. All these days, they were not aware that their son had been released, so when people were shouting from beatings, Maryia felt it was her son who was screaming.
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.
27.09.2020 "Road police officers broke my arm during detention." Survivor stories
The Human Rights Center “Viasna” and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) launched a campaign to document cases of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of protesters on August 9-13. Some testimonies of people who survived torture and violence will be published on our website as evidence of crimes committed by security forces.
27.09.2020 Marfa Rabkova faces formal charges
Viasna activist Marfa Rabkova has been officially charged under Part 3, Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (training or other preparation of persons for participation in mass riots, or financing of such activities). She remains in custody in pre-trial detention center No. 1 in Minsk.
25.09.2020 HRDs demand immediate release of political prisoner Stsiapan Latypau
Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community
25.09.2020 Urgent action by Amnesty International: Release human rights defender Marfa Rabkova
Woman human rights defender Marfa Rabkova was detained as a criminal suspect under false pretext on the evening of 17 September, by officers of the Interior Ministry’s Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (GUBAZIK). Her husband Vadzim Zharomski was also detained but released shortly after. Marfa Rabkova may face criminal charges. She is a prisoner of conscience, targeted solely for her peaceful human rights work and must be immediately and unconditionally released.
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.
23.09.2020 "I was lucky to be a journalist and to have my kidneys thrashed previously." Survivor stories
Siarhei Herasimovich was detained on 10 August at 9 p.m. near the Yubileynaya Hotel in Minsk. He was walking with his journalist colleagues when the cars on the avenue started beeping. Siarhei raised his hand in a Victory sign. Suddenly, the riot police shouted: "Come here!" The journalist walked up and was brutally thrown into the police van where the policemen started beating him with batons.
23.09.2020 Nasha Niva editor held on libel charges
Yahor Martsinovich, editor-in-chief of Nasha Niva, a popular online news site, was detained this morning by Belarusian security officers. His apartment was searched by the Interior Ministry’s Directorate of Internal Security.
22.09.2020 Over 250 criminal cases opened since launch of election
Since the announcement of the presidential election in early May, the authorities have opened over 250 criminal cases targeting presidential candidates, members of their campaign teams, and peaceful protesters. Viasna knows the names of 200 persons affected by these cases.
