The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2021

08.04.2021 Five more convicts in defamation trials called political prisoners

Joint statement by representatives of the Belarusian human rights community

07.04.2021 Human rights groups insist on release and retrials for 15 more political prisoners

Joint statement of the Belarusian human rights community

07.04.2021 Political prisoner Aliaksandra Patrasayeva sentenced to three years of “home imprisonment”, released in the courtroom

Judge Volha Malashenka of the Maskoŭski District Court of Minsk has sentenced political prisoner Aliaksandra Patrasayeva to three years of restricted freedom known as “home imprisonment”. The convict was released in the courtroom.

07.04.2021 Belarus in Amnesty International's Annual Report 2020/21

The year was characterized by recurrent peaceful protests, with the presidential election in August serving as a catalyst for the most egregious crackdown on freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association in Belarus’ post-independence history.

07.04.2021 Opposition politician Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison

The Saviecki District Court of Homieĺ has sentenced Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh, a veteran opposition politician and political prisoner, to two years and six months in a general-security penal colony. Judge Aliaksandr Mokharau found him guilty of publicly insulting a prosecutor (Article 369 of the Criminal Code).

07.04.2021 Stop persecution of human rights activists Tatsiana Hatsura-Yavorskaya and Enira Branitskaya

Joint statement of the Belarusian human rights community

06.04.2021 Artist Ales Pushkin is a political prisoner

Joint statement of the Belarusian human rights community

05.04.2021 Political prisoner Kiryl Paulavets convicted, released from custody

Judge Maryna Fiodarava of the Saviecki District Court of Minsk has sentenced political prisoner Kiryl Paulavets to three years in an open penitentiary (“khimiya”), finding him guilty under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them).

05.04.2021 Political prisoner Yaraslau Zbarouski sentenced to 3 years of “khimiya”, released in the courtroom

The Pieršamajski District Court of Minsk announced today a verdict in a criminal case against 50-year-old political prisoner Yaraslau Zbarouski, who was charged with “active participation in group actions that grossly violated public order” (Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code).

02.04.2021 Dissent is not a crime! We demand the immediate release of political prisoner Volha Zalatar

Joint statement of Belarusian human rights organizations

02.04.2021 Belarus must end pattern of police brutality and impunity: UN experts

UN human rights experts called on Belarus to end the continued pattern of excessive use of force, arrests, arbitrary detention and ill-treatment against protesters and the repression of journalists and media personnel.

02.04.2021 Political prisoner Ihar Rudchyk sentenced to 4 years in prison

The Zavodski District Court of Minsk sentenced 26-year-old political prisoner Ihar Rudchyk to four years in a medium-security penal colony, finding him guilty under Part 2 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (rioting).

02.04.2021 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: March 2021

The authorities continued to actively prosecute individuals for political reasons. There were 325 political prisoners, as of the end of March, and their number continues to increase.

01.04.2021 Brest court orders “khimiya” terms over Lukashenka’s effigy

Judge Inna Klyshpach of the Maskoŭski District Court of Brest ruled today to sentence two women and a man to various terms of restricted freedom, finding them guilty under Part 2 of Article 339 of the Criminal Code, hooliganism committed by a group of persons.

01.04.2021 Sisters sentenced to prison terms in political trial

Judge Aliaksandr Volk of the Saviecki District Court of Minsk has sentenced Anastasiya and Viktoryia Mirontsava, both political prisoners, to two and two and a half years in prison, respectively, finding the sisters guilty of “breaching public order” (Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code) and “using violence against police officers” (Part 1 of Art. 363).