05.06.2020 Picks of the week
Candidate's nomination campaign at risk after arrest of 9 activists; CEC ignores Lukashenka's sexist remarks; police detain would-be candidate
03.06.2020 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: May 2020
May was marked by a sharp deterioration in the human rights situation and an increase in repression, which is due to the start of the presidential election campaign.
02.06.2020 2020 Presidential Election. Weekly observation report: May 25-31
As compared to the previous presidential election, this year’s campaign, despite the COVID-19 crisis, is characterized by widespread media and street activity of individual candidates. The deterioration of the socio-economic situation in the country and the authorities’ controversial policies in response to the pandemic became a catalyst for public discontent and led to a certain increase in election-related protests.
01.06.2020 Release Siarhei Tsikhanouski!
We, representatives of Belarusian human rights organizations, call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately release Siarhei Tsikhanouski and stop his criminal prosecution.
29.05.2020 Picks of the week
Peaceful protesters continue to stand trials across Belarus; Viasna's human rights defender complains of "cold cell torture" in prison; Lukashenka's campaigners routinely abuse administrative resources to support the incumbent's nomination
23.05.2020 2020 Presidential Election. Report on the formation of territorial election commissions
A peculiarity of this year’s election is the context of the coronavirus pandemic, which affected the process of nominating representatives of parties and public associations and the procedure for holding meetings of the bodies that formed the TECs.
22.05.2020 Supreme Court confirms death sentence for Kostseu brothers
The Supreme Court of Belarus has upheld today the double death sentence handed down to Stanislau and Illia Kostseu charged with murdering their former schoolteacher in April 2019. The death verdicts have become final.
21.05.2020 2020 Presidential Election. Report on the registration of nomination groups
55 applications were submitted to the CEC to request the registration of groups formed to nominate future presidential candidates, which is an all-time record in the history of Belarusian presidential elections.
20.05.2020 CEC approves 15 nomination groups in August 9 presidential election
The Central Election Commission has registered 15 groups formed to support the nominations of future presidential candidates. These include the incumbent Aliaksandr Lukashenka, former Belgazprombank CEO Viktar Babaryka, ex-MP Hanna Kanapatskaya, BSDH party leader Siarhei Cherachen, United Civil Party chairman Mikalai Kazlou, and Tell the Truth leader Andrei Dzmitryeu.
19.05.2020 Political prisoner Pilip Shaurou walks free after mild sentence
The court of the Centraĺny district of Minsk has sentenced Pilip Shaurou, activist of the Young Front opposition group earlier called a political prisoner by Belarusian human rights defenders, to a fine of 1,350 rubles, finding him guilty of criminal vandalism and property damage.
18.05.2020 2020 Presidential Election. Weekly observation report: May 8-17
The election is taking place against the background of the coronavirus pandemic, which is a serious challenge carrying enormous risks for lives of both the direct participants in the electoral process and other citizens of the country as a whole.
15.05.2020 Harassment of Viasna activists continues
Ales Burakou, member of Viasna’s office in Mahilioŭ, has been detained today over his alleged involvement in protests held on May 5 and 6.
13.05.2020 Viasna insists on immediate release of its arrested members
Statement of the Board of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" Minsk - May 12, 2020
13.05.2020 Crackdown on Peaceful Protesters Mars Beginning of Presidential Campaign Season
The campaign season for Belarus’ presidential elections, scheduled for August 9, saw sweeping repression against civil society by authorities. Over the past week, authorities arbitrarily detained over 100 peaceful protesters across Belarus, charging them with administrative fines and arrests.
12.05.2020 Human rights defenders, protesters convicted across Belarus
Several human rights defenders and opposition activists have been sentenced to short terms of detention or fined following trials held today in various parts of Belarus. These include Viasna’s activists Aliaksandr Burakou in Mahilioŭ and Uladzimir Vialichkin in Brest.
