02.08.2010 OSCE criticizes mass media freedom in Belarus

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovich has come out in the support of Belarusian journalists.

On 30 July, Dunja Mijatovich has delivered her first report at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna. In the report on two dozens of the OSCE participating States, to which Mijatovich addressed with different questions concerning freedom of mass media, Belarus is mentioned as well, Radio Svaboda informs.

30.06.2010 Freedom House called regime in Belarus authoritarian

Freedom House’s report listed Belarus among authoritarian states.

The survey studies the human rights situation and democracy in 29 states of Eastern Europe and former Soviet bloc, AFN reports.

10.06.2010 Ales Bialiatski takes part in OSCE conference in Copenhagen

The OSCE conference on the occsaion of the 20th anniversary of signing of the Copenhagen Document takes place in Copenhagen on 10-11 June. Ales Bialiatski, Chairperson of the Human Rights Center Viasna and Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), was invited there to represent Belarusian NGOs. An official delegation from Belarus takes part in the conference as well.

10.06.2010 Counsel Hrabouski: verdict to Yakavenka was copied from prosecutor's ruling

On 9 June, lawyer Yauhen Hrabouski familiarized with a copy of the verdict to his client, conscientious objector Yauhen Yakavenka, who has been recently punished by the Tsentralny District Court of Homel with 1 year of personal restraint with direction to an open penitentiary institution.

28.05.2010 UN Human Rights Committee registers complaints by Brest pro-dem activists

The UN Human Rights Committee registered communications by four Brest pro-democratic activists Dzianis Turchaniak, Iryna Laurouskaya, Valery Faminski and Raman Kisliak under # 1948/2010.

28.05.2010 Amnesty International’s Report is a signal for Belarusian authorities, say human rights activists

Belarusian human rights activists say that the annual Report 2010 released by the Amnesty International human rights organization is a grave signal for the Belarusian authorities to promptly start the liberalization of the national legislation and bring the means of its implementation in accordance with the international standards in the field of civil and political rights.

27.05.2010 Amnesty International’s Report 2010 condemns human rights abuses in Belarus

The Amnesty International human rights organization released its annual Report ‘Amnesty International Report 2010: State of the World's Human Rights’, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. The Report stresses that ‘powerful governments are blocking advances in international justice by standing above the law on human rights, shielding allies from criticism and acting only when politically convenient.’

18.05.2010 Council of Europe Secretary General criticizes death penalty sentences in Belarus

Practicing death penalty remains an obstacle in Belarus–Council of Europe relations.

On May 14, the Hrodna region court sentenced two dwellers of Hrodna to death. They were found guilty of the murder of three persons with extreme cruelty and accompanied, robbery with beating which caused grave bodily damage, intentional damage to property, and abduction of a child. The verdict hasn’t taken legal effect and can be appealed against to the Supreme Court within ten days.

13.05.2010 The authorities spent too much time thinking about abolition of Article 193.1

The Ministry of Justice again confirms the intention of the authorities to eliminate from the Criminal Code of Belarus Article 193.1 that envisages punishment for activities on behalf of unregistered organizations.

13.05.2010 Belarusian NGOs and international community discuss the situation of human rights in Belarus

Representatives of the Belarusian NGOs held a number of events on 12 May in Geneva that were connected with the report of the Belarusian authorities within the guidelines of the procedure of the Universal Periodical Review at the UN Human Rights Council.

11.05.2010 OSCE is concerned with pressurization of media in Belarus

An OSCE representative slams persecution of the Belarusian journalists and criminal cases against charter97.org website.

05.05.2010 Inter-Parliamentary Union reminds authorities about disappearance of Hanchar and Krasouski

The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union unanimously adopted the resolution on disappeared Belarusian opposition leaders.

30.04.2010 PACE freezes contacts with Belarusian regime

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe freezes high-level contacts with Belarus due to violation of democratic standards.

The resolution was adopted by a majority of votes at a PACE session in Strasbourg on April 29.

The resolution was adopted with 58 out of 67 votes in favour, 6 against and 3 abstentions, BelaPAN reports.

27.04.2010 Council of Europe: We have serious barriers for rapproachmenet with Minsk

The Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Micheline Calmy-Rey has called upon the Belarusian government to redouble efforts in the cause of rapproachment to this organisation.

19.04.2010 International Report Demands Radical Reform of Belarus Media

Today, on 19 April international media and press freedom organisations issued " For Free and Fair Media in Belarus", a report calling for far reaching reforms of the media in Belarus.