The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2017

16.03.2017 Libereco: Release all detained protesters in Belarus!

Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights, the Zürich-Cologne based human rights group, has launched an email campaign to urge the Belarusian authorities to "stop the persecution, harassment and intimidation of dissidents".

15.03.2017 Dozens held after legal protest in Minsk, many beaten by police

At least 52 people have been detained after a protest held yesterday in Minsk. Many detentions were marked by excessive use of violence on the part of the police.

15.03.2017 Over 120 protesters, journalists detained in unprecedented crackdown on peaceful dissent since March 3

According to human rights defenders, over 120 persons have been detained since March 3, including opposition activists, journalists and ordinary protesters.

15.03.2017 UN Special Rapporteurs concerned about recurring violence against demonstrators in Belarus

Belarus is being urged by a UN human rights expert to stop acts of violence and harassment against demonstrators and to respect freedom of peaceful assembly.

14.03.2017 More activists imprisoned and fined ahead of new protests

The courts in Brest and Hrodna have sentenced several activists to jail terms of up to 15 days on charges of involvement in protests held on February 19. Others were fined for the same offenses.

14.03.2017 International human rights groups: Belarus protests in focus

The arrest of dozens of protesters and journalists over the weekend is the “biggest crackdown in years”, Amnesty International said in response to the alarming reports coming from Belarus.

13.03.2017 Courts convict activists, journalists over protests

The courts in a number of cities across Belarus, including Orša, Babrujsk and Brest have heard today administrative charges brought against peaceful protesters detained following yesterday’s protests. Several reporters were also detained and eventually found guilty of “illegal demonstrating” and other minor offenses.

12.03.2017 Protesters, journalists detained across Belarus

Numerous opposition activists and journalists working for independent media have been detained today before and after protests held across the country, including in Orša, Babrujsk, Kobryn and Brest.

11.03.2017 Protesters sentenced to jail terms in Maladziečna

The Maladziečna District Court has ordered jail terms ranging between 7 and 15 days against a dozen persons detained following yesterday’s protest, including several opposition leaders, Anatol Liabedzka and Vital Rymasheuski, in particular.

11.03.2017 Activists detained ahead of protest in Babrujsk

Four opposition activists were detained last night in Babrujsk.

11.03.2017 Stop persecution of citizens for exercising their right to peaceful protest and expression

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" notes the deterioration of the overall human rights situation in the country.

11.03.2017 Opposition leaders detained after protest in Maladziečna

Several opposition figures, including United Civil Party leader Anatol Liabedzka, Yuras Hubarevich, leader of the For Freedom movement, and Belarusian Christian Democracy co-chair Vital Rymasheuski, were detained yesterday evening after a protest staged in the city of Maladziečna.

11.03.2017 Opposition activist Zmitser Dashkevich sentenced to three days in jail

The Saviecki District Court of Minsk sentenced yesterday Zmitser Dashkevich, leader of the Young Front opposition group, to three days in jail.

09.03.2017 Belarus still "an authoritarian state", U.S. Human Rights Report says

"Since his election as president in 1994, Aliaksandr Lukashenka has consolidated his rule over all institutions and undermined the rule of law through authoritarian means, including manipulated elections and arbitrary decrees," says the U.S. Department of State's Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Belarus for 2016.

07.03.2017 Officials relaunch repression tools amid massive protests

The Belarusian authorities have been struggling to reduce the level of social discontent ignited by the enforcement of the infamous Decree No. 3, which introduced a special tax on unemployment. The government is using a variety of repressive methods, including intimidation, fines and imprisonment, punitive psychiatry and police raids.