13.05.2020 Crackdown on Peaceful Protesters Mars Beginning of Presidential Campaign Season
The campaign season for Belarus’ presidential elections, scheduled for August 9, saw sweeping repression against civil society by authorities. Over the past week, authorities arbitrarily detained over 100 peaceful protesters across Belarus, charging them with administrative fines and arrests.
12.05.2020 Human rights defenders, protesters convicted across Belarus
Several human rights defenders and opposition activists have been sentenced to short terms of detention or fined following trials held today in various parts of Belarus. These include Viasna’s activists Aliaksandr Burakou in Mahilioŭ and Uladzimir Vialichkin in Brest.
11.05.2020 120 people affected by new crackdown on peaceful protesters
The Human Rights Center “Viasna” is aware of at least 120 new cases of persecution targeting peaceful protesters documented since May 6, after police arrested critical vlogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski in Mahilioŭ.
09.05.2020 Picks of the week
Authorities target critical bloggers and peaceful protesters as Parliament sets presidential election for August 9
08.05.2020 Presidential election set for August 9
The House of Representatives, Belarusian Parliament’s lower chamber, has set a date for the presidential election today, the government-run BelTA news agency said. The vote will be held on August 9.
07.05.2020 Political prisoner Pilip Shaurou released pending trial set for May 18
Pilip Shaurou, activist of the Young Front opposition group facing criminal vandalism charges, has been released from pre-trial detention to await trial. The hearing is scheduled for May 18.
06.05.2020 Officials hold back COVID-19 facts from media and the public
The state propaganda accuses its private counterparts of misinformation and escalation, and the authorities threaten reporters with penalties. Meanwhile, officials have built a ‘wall of silence’ to suppress information about the COVID-19 crisis, Belarusian Association of Journalists said.
01.05.2020 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: April 2020
The country’s human rights community voiced its particular concern over the government’s current policy to address the coronavirus pandemic crisis. Contrary to the WHO recommendations, the Belarusian authorities continue to conduct mass events, including the nationwide “subbotnik” (unpaid social labor day) and preparations for the May 9 military parade in Minsk, and refuse to introduce a quarantine in educational institutions.
29.04.2020 2020 presidential election in Belarus: key proposals from human rights defenders
Members of the non-partisan election observation campaign “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” sent today to the Central Election Commission, the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court a set of key proposals on this year’s presidential election scheduled for late August.
29.04.2020 Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Human rights must be protected during COVID-19 pandemic
Governments in Eastern European and Central Asian countries are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with repressive and abusive measures which fall far short of their human rights obligations, Amnesty International said today.
24.04.2020 Picks of the week
Police search apartment of human rights activist in Svietlahorsk; man in Homieĺ fined for sharing banned video about Lukashenka; woman claims wrong conviction for failing to self-isolate
24.04.2020 Viasna calls to suspend administrative detention during COVID-19 pandemic
Under the conditions of the pandemic declared by the World Health Organization, it is incumbent on the Belarusian authorities to take immediate steps to prevent the spread of the virus among the categories of people most at risk of infection: low-income and homeless persons, alcohol abusers and prisoners.
21.04.2020 Amnesty International: 657 people executed in 2019, Belarus kills at least 2
In 2019, global executions fell by 5%, hitting a 10-year low, Amnesty International said in its annual overview of the death penalty around the world.
17.04.2020 Picks of the week
Authorities extend investigation in Pilip Shaurou case; HRDs write to UN expert about politically motivated expulsion of student in Minsk; Viasna activist convicted in Baranavičy
17.04.2020 Belarus in Amnesty International's annual human rights review
Amnesty International has released an annual report on the human rights situation in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
