28.10.2019 New death sentence passed in Belarus
On October 25, the Brest Regional Court sentenced Viktar Serhil, 48, to death, finding him guilty of brutally murdering a minor (Part 2, Art. 139 of the Criminal Code).
25.10.2019 Ex-prisoner of conscience Dzmitry Paliyenka gets 10 months of “house arrest”
Dzmitry Paliyenka, former political prisoner and Amnesty International’s prisoner of conscience, has been sentenced to three years of “restricted freedom,” after a highly controversial trial at the Minsk City Court. The sentence will be reduced to 10 months, considering a recent amnesty and the defendant's stay in pre-trial detention. The activist was released in the courtroom.
24.10.2019 Viasna’s Valiantsin Stefanovich elected FIDH vice-president
The 40th World Congress of the International Federation for Human Rights has completed its work in Taiwan with the election of president and vice-presidents. Alice Mogwe, a human rights lawyer from Botswana, has been elected FIDH President for the next three years. She previously served as the organization’s secretary-general.
22.10.2019 Domestic observers report lack of progress in nomination and registration of candidates
The nomination and registration of candidates were not marked by any significant differences as compared to the previous parliamentary elections, concludes an interim report by the nation-wide campaign “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”. The findings were presented today at a press conference in Minsk.
21.10.2019 Parliamentary elections 2019: Report on the nomination and registration of candidates
The nomination and registration of candidates were nor marked by any significant differences as compared to the previous parliamentary elections.
18.10.2019 Belarusian Activist Slashes His Arm In Court Protest
A Belarusian civil society activist and former prisoner of conscience has slashed his hand in a courtroom to protest against his closed-door trial, which rights activists called politically motivated.
18.10.2019 Lack of reforms and contempt for fundamental freedoms in Belarus raise concerns ahead of elections, says UN expert
The overall environment in Belarus remains hostile to dissident opinions and unduly restricts civil and political rights, says UN expert Anaïs Marin.
17.10.2019 Belarus: Politically motivated trial against former prisoner of conscience starts behind closed doors
The Belarusian authorities must uphold the right of former prisoner of conscience Dzmitry Paliyenka to a fair trial and ensure his hearing is open to the public, Amnesty International said ahead of the start of his trial on 17 October.
11.10.2019 Picks of the Week against the Death Penalty
The past seven days have been dominated by events held as part of the annual nation-wide Week against the Death Penalty in Belarus. Viasna has collected quotes and photo evidence of the Week to highlight the diversity of voices and efforts demanding an end to executions, both in the country and worldwide.
05.10.2019 “Justice without Killing”: Events of the Week against the Death Penalty
The annual Week against the Death Penalty will be held from 5 to 10 October across Belarus to promote this year’s slogan “Justice without Killing.”
04.10.2019 Picks of the week
Observers report record low representation of opposition in precinct election commissions; critical blogger unable to pay heavy fine, begs for community service to avoid criminal charges; Supreme Court sets appeal hearing in death convict's case
02.10.2019 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: September 2019
On September 25, the Minsk City Court was to open a closed trial in the criminal case of an activist of the anarchist movement Dzmitry Paliyenka. As a result, the trial was adjourned due to the judge’s illness.
01.10.2019 PACE holds hearing on Belarus ahead of November 17 elections
The Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly has arranged a public hearing on the situation of Belarus ahead of this year’s parliamentary elections scheduled for November 17.
27.09.2019 Picks of the week
Trial of Dzmitry Paliyenka postponed; wheelchair user reports accessibility issues in election campaigning; Tajik opposition activist detained in Belarus, awaits extradition
27.09.2019 OSCE HDIM 2019: Belarus in focus
The OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Europe's largest annual human rights and democracy conference, is closing today in Warsaw, following two weeks of discussions that brought together hundreds of activists and policy-makers.
