15.07.2020 280 detained in protests across Belarus
At least 280 people were detained by the police yesterday evening after hundreds demonstrated against the Central Election Commission’s decision to disqualify two of the incumbent Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s key rivals in the upcoming presidential election.
14.07.2020 Lukashenka’s key rivals removed from elections
The Central Election Commission has declined to register Viktar Babaryka and Valery Tsapkala, making two of Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s key rivals ineligible to run for President.
13.07.2020 Russian national facing charges in Tsikhanouski case
Dmitry Popov, moderator of several social media accounts affiliated with Siarhei Tsikhanouski’s YouTube channel “A Country For Living”, has been charged under Part 1, Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (preparation for or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
10.07.2020 Immediately release Pavel Seviarynets!
Joint statement of human rights and other civil society organizations of Belarus
10.07.2020 Siarhei Sparysh is new political prisoner
The human rights community of Belarus has called Siarhei Sparysh, an activist of the Narodnaya Hramada party facing charges under part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order), a political prisoner.
09.07.2020 Two political prisoners released before trial
Vasil Babrouski and Uladzimir Navumik, both earlier charged under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (“breaching public order”), have been released from pre-trial detention.
09.07.2020 Another person facing charges in Tsikhanouski’s ‘disturbances’ case
Siarhei Sparysh, spokesperson for Nardonaya Hramada, an opposition movement led by former political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich, is facing charges under Part 1 Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (preparation for or active participation in actions that grossly violate public order).
07.07.2020 Government slashes campaigning locations in attempt to sterilize elections
Following an unprecedented crackdown on presidential nominees and members of their campaign teams, the authorities have opted to minimize the outreach of the upcoming campaigning phase of the presidential election set for August 9.
06.07.2020 Human rights groups call to release Babaryka campaign activists
The human rights organizations of Belarus insist on the immediate and unconditional release of Alena Karahachava and Dzmitry Karaka, members of Viktar Babaryka’s campaign team.
02.07.2020 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: June 2020
The election campaign is taking place against the background of continuous repressions, in an atmosphere of intimidation of society. In June, the overall human rights situation in the country deteriorated sharply.
30.06.2020 Supreme Court quashes death sentence in double murder case
The Supreme Court has overturned a death sentence earlier handed down to Viktar Skrundzik, 29, on charges of involvement in the murder of two elderly people near the city of Sluck in January 2019. The case will sent for a re-trial at the Minsk Regional Court.
30.06.2020 Viasna condemns persecution of opposition leader Statkevich as politically motivated
Mikalai Statkevich, opposition politician, former presidential candidate and ex-political prisoner, is facing criminal charges of “grave breach of public order” (Part 1, Art. 342 of the Criminal Code), his wife Maryna Adamovich said.
29.06.2020 Amnesty International calls Tsikhanouski, Babaryka, associates and bloggers prisoners of conscience
The Belarusian authorities “must end politically motivated prosecutions, intimidation, harassment and reprisals against Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s opponents and their supporters, civil society activists and independent media,” Amnesty International said today.
28.06.2020 2020 Presidential Election: Report on the formation of precinct election commissions
The absence of legal guarantees for equal representation in the election commissions of all political entities participating in the elections, as before, resulted in an arbitrary and discriminatory approach to opposition parties and movements.
26.06.2020 Four critical bloggers charged in Tsikhanouski case
Four bloggers known for their criticism of the current government have been charged under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (group actions that grossly disturb public order) and are facing up to three years in prison
