News for March 2017

48 organizations from 24 countries "strongly condemn the continuing wave of detentions and harassment" in Belarus

23.03.2017 48 organizations from 24 countries "strongly condemn the continuing wave of detentions and harassment" in Belarus

We, 48 undersigned organizations from 24 countries, strongly condemn the continuing wave of detentions and harassment of peaceful protesters, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society activists, anarchists and opposition party members in Belarus.

KGB holds 26 people in fresh ‘rioting' case

23.03.2017 KGB holds 26 people in fresh ‘rioting' case

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" has received information about at least 18 people detained by special services on March 21-22 in the framework of a criminal investigation into allegations of ‘plotting a riot’ under Part 3, Art. 293 of the Criminal Code.

Belarus: First death sentence in 2017

22.03.2017 Belarus: First death sentence in 2017

Paris-Minsk. FIDH and its member organisation in Belarus Human Rights Centre "Viasna" denounce the first death sentence in 2017 and regret the Belarusian authorities continue to ignore calls to render Europe a death penalty-free zone.

Prison monitoring report: “We cannot help everyone, but manage to highlight violations in prisons”

22.03.2017 Prison monitoring report: “We cannot help everyone, but manage to highlight violations in prisons”

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" presented yesterday its annual report on the results of monitoring places of detention in Belarus.

Report on monitoring of the ‘March of non-parasites’ in Minsk. 15 March 2017

20.03.2017 Report on monitoring of the ‘March of non-parasites’ in Minsk. 15 March 2017

The mass event was of a peaceful character (an assembly should be deemed peaceful if “its organisers have professed peaceful intentions and the conduct of the assembly is non-violent”). The participants and organisers did not appeal to violence or aggressive actions.

Man sentenced to death in Naroŭlia

20.03.2017 Man sentenced to death in Naroŭlia

The Homieĺ Regional Court pronounced today, March 17, a death sentence in the case of Aliaksei Mikhalenia, a 32-year-old resident of Naroŭlia. This is the first death sentence handed down in 2017.

Four TV Crews Detained on Saturday

18.03.2017 Four TV Crews Detained on Saturday

TV crews contributing to Belsat were briefly detained on March 18 throughout Belarus; the journalists aimed to report on protest actions announced by anarchist groups thoughout the country.

ODIHR Director calls on Belarus to uphold rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression in protests

18.03.2017 ODIHR Director calls on Belarus to uphold rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression in protests

Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), expressed concern over the reported fining and detention of dozens of protestors and human rights activists in Belarus over the last week for their participation in peaceful public assemblies.

EU calls to release detained protesters in Belarus

18.03.2017 EU calls to release detained protesters in Belarus

"The latest developments in Belarus highlight a clear need for a broader democratisation process in the country. Freedom of association and of assembly needs to be ensured. Recently detained peaceful protesters, including journalists covering the events, must be immediately released," Spokesperson of the European Union External Action Service said in a statement.

Human rights defender Anatol Paplauny sentenced to 10 days in jail

17.03.2017 Human rights defender Anatol Paplauny sentenced to 10 days in jail

Anatol Paplauny, Viasna's representative in Homieĺ, has been sentenced today to 10 days of administrative arrest on charges of involvement in a protest on February 19.

Belarus crackdown: more than 200 arrested or detained in two weeks

17.03.2017 Belarus crackdown: more than 200 arrested or detained in two weeks

The new repression of peaceful protesters currently ongoing in Belarus confirms the absence of political change, declared FIDH and Human Rights Center (HRC) Viasna today.

Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders: Stop harassment of Leanid Sudalenka and Anatol Paplauny

16.03.2017 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders: Stop harassment of Leanid Sudalenka and Anatol Paplauny

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders requests intervention ahead of tomorrow's trial of Viasna's human rights defenders Leanid Sudalenka and Anatol Paplauny in Homieĺ.

Over 60 trials across Belarus: 50 protesters jailed

16.03.2017 Over 60 trials across Belarus: 50 protesters jailed

At least 65 persons have stood trials today in Minsk, Hrodna and Mahilioŭ following yesterday's violent detentions of participants in peaceful protests against President's Decree No. 3.

Report on monitoring of the March of non-parasites in Hrodna. 15 March 2017

16.03.2017 Report on monitoring of the March of non-parasites in Hrodna. 15 March 2017

The mass event was of a peaceful character (an assembly should be deemed peaceful if “its organisers have professed peaceful intentions and the conduct of the assembly is non-violent”). The participants and organisers did not appeal to violence or aggressive actions.

HRHF voices concerns over "parasites tax" protests at UN Human Rights Council

16.03.2017 HRHF voices concerns over "parasites tax" protests at UN Human Rights Council

"Everybody should be allowed to exercise their right to peaceful assembly," Léa Meindre-Chautrand, International Advocacy Associate at the Human Rights House Foundation, said in a statement to the UN Human Rights Council on March 15.

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