News for December 2023

Elections* 2024. Analytical report on the formation of territorial and district election commissions

29.12.2023 Elections* 2024. Analytical report on the formation of territorial and district election commissions

The expert election*1 2024 observation mission was organized by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Viasna Human Rights Center as part of the "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" campaign. The mission collects and analyzes information about the election campaign based on open sources and messages from voters from Belarus.

"They didn't replace us, they just didn't hire anyone instead." Labor contract as a method of repression

28.12.2023 "They didn't replace us, they just didn't hire anyone instead." Labor contract as a method of repression

Two teachers from one Belarusian university told Viasna how they were dismissed when their contracts were not renewed and how they were denied the right to a profession.

The statement on the recognition of 15 people as political prisoners

26.12.2023 The statement on the recognition of 15 people as political prisoners

Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community

Viasna received the UN Human Rights Prize for 2023

22.12.2023 Viasna received the UN Human Rights Prize for 2023

This year, it was awarded to five winners.

"We need to check how well Viasna works." A former observer of the 2020 elections spoke about his detention by the KGB

22.12.2023 "We need to check how well Viasna works." A former observer of the 2020 elections spoke about his detention by the KGB

Last week, employees of the State Security Committee (KGB) conducted numerous searches and inspections of former independent observers of the 2020 presidential elections.

What happened to political prisoners from December 13 to 21

22.12.2023 What happened to political prisoners from December 13 to 21

Viasna provides a weekly overview of the latest news on political prisoners.

International legal team for Ales Bialiatski files petition with UN working group on arbitrary detention

22.12.2023 International legal team for Ales Bialiatski files petition with UN working group on arbitrary detention

Legal experts demand the release of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.

The statement on the recognition of 6 people as political prisoners

21.12.2023 The statement on the recognition of 6 people as political prisoners

We, representatives of the human rights community of Belarus, once again note that politically motivated criminal prosecution is used by the authorities to suppress public and political activity, dissent, and anti-war protests.

The statement on the recognition of 16 people as political prisoners

21.12.2023 The statement on the recognition of 16 people as political prisoners

Statement by the human rights community of Belarus

"It is becoming more important both today and for the future," human rights activists of Viasna talk of the book with letters from female political prisoners

21.12.2023 "It is becoming more important both today and for the future," human rights activists of Viasna talk of the book with letters from female political prisoners

Viasna human rights defenders, who participated in the collection of materials for the book, spoke about its importance.

Wake-up time is 5 a.m. in a concrete cell, presumably in solitary confinement: these are conditions in which Ales Bialiatski is being held

20.12.2023 Wake-up time is 5 a.m. in a concrete cell, presumably in solitary confinement: these are conditions in which Ales Bialiatski is being held

Radio Svaboda has found out information about the attitude towards political prisoners in the Gorki penal colony and the certain environment that the local administration creates. 

A political prisoner, who was detained upon her return from Poland, was sentenced to 10 years in a penal colony

19.12.2023 A political prisoner, who was detained upon her return from Poland, was sentenced to 10 years in a penal colony

On December 19, the Hrodna Regional Court sentenced Aliaksandra Kasko, a 30-year-old political prisoner, to ten years in a penal colony. 

Leanid Sudalenka's house was searched, and a criminal case was opened against the former political prisoner

19.12.2023 Leanid Sudalenka's house was searched, and a criminal case was opened against the former political prisoner

A new criminal case has been opened against Leanid Sudalenka under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code (other assistance to extremist activities).

Torture with stress positions, the threat of termination of parental rights: the abuse that Belarusian women face

18.12.2023 Torture with stress positions, the threat of termination of parental rights: the abuse that Belarusian women face

The Viasna Human Rights Center contacted the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and informed it about known evidence of torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of women.

Meetings with police officers and investigators. How is the Central Electoral Commission preparing for the elections*?

15.12.2023 Meetings with police officers and investigators. How is the Central Electoral Commission preparing for the elections*?

The official website of the Central Election Commission (CEC) reported that the chairman of the CEC of Belarus, Ihar Karpenka, recently met with representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Investigative Committee.

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