12.12.2017 Ex-defendant in ‘White Legion case’ charged with weapon possession
Andrei Bialiauski, who earlier faced charges in so-called ‘White Legion case’, has been formally accused of storing a cartridge (Part 2 of Art. 295 of the Criminal Code — Illegal manufacturing, purchase, transfer, possession, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of firearms, ammunition, explosives, etc.). Bialiauski told this on December 12, shortly after another interrogation at the Investigative Committee.
12.12.2017 Opposition leader Mikalai Statkevich briefly detained at border checkpoint
Belarusian border officers have detained Mikalai Statkevich, leader of the opposition National Congress, as he was leaving the country together with his wife Maryna Adamovich this morning.
08.12.2017 Monitoring report on the formation of district election commissions
Observation is carried out by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" in the framework of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections".
04.12.2017 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: November 2017
In November, the government continued to use repressive practices against political opponents and civil society activists; there were no significant systemic changes in the field of human rights.
04.12.2017 UN experts set uncomfortable questions in Belarus anti-discrimination report
The lack of anti-discrimination legislation, the absence of an ombudsman, the problem with the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession, the presence of the President's decree on social dependency, lack of cooperation between the government and the civil society — these and other concerns, which characterize the overall situation of human rights in the country, were raised before the official delegation of Belarus during the consideration of the country’s report in the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
30.11.2017 Authorities end investigation in ‘White Legion case’
“The preliminary investigation of the case is completed. On November 27, a decision was taken to discontinue the criminal prosecution of all defendants in the so-called ‘White Legion case’. We believe that this has drawn a line under the case. The case file has been sent to the prosecutor for consideration and assessment of the legality of the decision. The defendants have begun to familiarize with the decision to dismiss the criminal case and the case file,” the Investigative Committee’s website said today.
29.11.2017 UN CERD to hear alternative reports on Belarus
On November 30, the 94th session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is expected to consider the report of the Belarusian government on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Belarusian human rights defenders will present alternative reports to the Committee.
28.11.2017 Monitoring report on the formation of territorial election commissions
Observation is carried out by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" in the framework of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections".
22.11.2017 Belarus overlooks UNGA resolution on the role of human rights defenders
On November 20, UN Member States unanimously endorsed the free and independent role of human rights defenders at the UN. Belarus is not among the 75 countries that co-sponsored the key resolution by the UN General Assembly, which clearly stated the need to protect human rights defenders around the world. By doing this, the Belarusian authorities have witnessed their true position towards the human rights community, Ales Bialiatski, head of the HRC "Viasna", said.
16.11.2017 Fact sheet on the press conference by the campaign “Human Rights Defenders For Free Elections”
The fact sheet provides a timeline of measures taken by the campaign's experts towards cooperation with the interdepartmental expert working group under the CEC set up to examine the OSCE ODIHRrecommendations and to develop proposals to amend the electoral law.
14.11.2017 Local elections on the background of shelved electoral changes — press conference by human rights defenders
“Human Rights Defenders For Free Elections” are arranging a press conference to annouce the launch of a non-partisan observation of the local elections set for 18 February 2018.
14.11.2017 Eastern Partnership Summit: Azerbaijan and Belarus leaders should be pushed towards democratization
Dozens of leading international and national human rights organizations, including two Belarusian groups, have called on EU leaders to raise the issue of human rights violations in Azerbaijan during the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit, which will be held on November 24 in Brussels.
10.11.2017 Sakharov Freedom Award goes to anti-torture fighters in Russia
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee’s Sakharov Freedom Award 2017 is awarded to the newspaper Novaya Gazeta and the organization Committee against Torture.
02.11.2017 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: October 2017
The widely announced changes in the Law "On Mass Events" and the introduction of the notification-based principle of some static types of events (pickets, meetings, rallies) in a limited number of locations authorized by local executive bodies will not significantly improve the situation with the implementation of the freedom of peaceful assembly.
02.11.2017 Niakliayeu is the first victim of ‘ruthless liberalization’
The court of Lieninski district of Minsk sentenced yesterday opposition leader Uladzimir Niakliayeu to 10 days of administrative detention, finding him guilty of violating Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (breaching demonstration rules).
