So-called presidential elections in Belarus ‘set to be a sham’, says PACE General Rapporteur
An election held under such oppressive conditions cannot and will not meet international recognised standards of fairness and legitimacy.
"I'm probably just going to die here": The situation of political prisoners from vulnerable groups (updated)
As of January 20, 2025, human rights defenders are aware of at least 282 political prisoners who are at particular risk of mistreatment while incarcerated.
An imprisoned Nobel laureate underscores human rights abuses in Belarus
Belarus will hold a presidential election on Jan. 26 with no real opposition candidates. That all but assures a seventh term for Lukashenka.
Statement on the recognition of 15 new political prisoners
Statement by the human rights community of Belarus
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus invited the OSCE to observe the elections*. The ODIHR answered why it was late
On January 17, the OSCE/ODIHR responded to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus on the invitation to the elections.
40.5% of all the "extremist" rulings were issued in 2024. What was recognized as "extremist" last year
Viasna reports how in 2024 the Belarusian courts were zealous with decisions on recognizing materials as "extremist" and also recalls which information received an "extremist" status.
71 convicted of "terrorism" in Belarus: from women to foreigners
The defendants in the Autukhovich case, Mačuliščy case, Haidukevich case, and Civil Self-Defense Unit of Belarus case.
Suicides and suicide attempts: an extreme form of protest against violence and lawlessness
Viasna cites the most high-profile cases of suicides and suicide attempts among Belarusians who have been persecuted or convicted for political reasons.
December: significant increase in cases of politically motivated criminal prosecution
Viasna human rights defenders note that according to preliminary data, at least 188 people were persecuted in December, and 144 in November.
In December, at least 20 political prisoners served their full sentences, and 49 people were pardoned.
What political prisoners served their sentences for and how many of them were imprisoned. Viasna recalls their cases.
Nakanishi Masatoshi, a Japanese political prisoner, is being tried
The Japanese citizen faces up to 7 years in a penal colony.
Employee of the EU delegation in Belarus sentenced to 4 years in a penal colony
Mikalai Khila was found guilty under two articles: Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code (incitement of other social hatred or hostility) and Part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code (calls for sanctions).
Death penalty
- Preface by Ales Bialiatski to the book The Death Penalty in Belarus
- Malaysian man believed at risk of execution: Pannir Selvam Pranthaman
- "The existence of the death penalty is always a litmus test of the human rights situation"
- Kurdish dissident sentenced to death in Iran: Verisheh Moradi
- Over the past 10 years, 24 death sentences have been handed down in Belarus. Review of high-profile cases
- Restriction, moratorium, abolition: How Lithuania eliminated the death penalty
- Burkina Faso plans to reinstate death penalty
- Iran: youth arrested at 17 at risk of imminent execution: Mohammad Reza Azizi
- Declaration by the youth ambassadors for the abolition of the death penalty
- Singapore moves further out of step on death penalty
- New arguments in favor of abolishing the death penalty: threats and benefits for the Lukashenka regime
- "Are you ready to give these courts the right to take lives?" A film about the death penalty was showed in Warsaw
- Kurdish woman activist sentenced to death: Pakhshan Azizi (document)
- Woman Rights Defender at Risk of Execution: Sharifeh Mohammadi (document)
- "Australia should strengthen its global advocacy to abolish the death penalty", Human Rights Watch said
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