23.03.2017 Polish MPs urge Belarus to halt repression and start dialogue with civil society
On March 23, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland hosted parliamentary hearings with representatives of political parties and civil society of Belarus. Participants included, in particular, chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Andrei Bastunets and Chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
