01.11.2017 Human rights activists call for open trial of columnists charged with inciting ethnic hatred
The Belarusian Association of Journalists, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" have issued a joint statement to demand an open hearing of the criminal charges brought against Yury Paulavets, Dzmitry Alimkin, and Siarhei Shyptsenka.
31.10.2017 Alexievich, Bialiatski sign Prague Appeal for Democratic Renewal
Dozens of intellectuals, civil society activists and politicians from different countries have joined the Coalition for Democratic Renewal (CDR), an initiative launched to “go on the offensive against the authoritarian opponents of democracy, and to demonstrate solidarity with the brave people who are fighting for freedoms in undemocratic systems around the world.”
31.10.2017 Lawyer Hanna Bakhtsina loses appeal in disbarment case
The Maskoŭski District Court of Minsk has turned down an appeal filed by defense lawyer Hanna Bakhtsina to challenge the Justice Ministry’s decision, which revoked the counsel’s license due to “lack of professional skills.”
30.10.2017 Polish Bar Council expresses 'deep concern' over harrasment of lawyers in Belarus
The Human Rights Commission of the Polish Bar Council would like to express its deep concern regarding the activities of the Bar Qualifications Commission of the Ministry of justice of the Republic of Belarus, aimed against advocates fighting for human rights from the Bar Chambers in Minsk and Mahiliou.
27.10.2017 Miklós Haraszti: Belarus human rights record “devastating” as president tightens grip on power
Belarus has a “devastating” record on human rights which has worsened over two decades as the president has consolidated his grip on absolute power, a UN human rights expert has told the General Assembly in New York.
24.10.2017 Secretary-General's Message for 2017 UN Day
"When we achieve human rights and human dignity for all people – they will build a peaceful, sustainable and just world," António Guterres, UN Secretary-General said in a video message marking the annual United Nations Day.
21.10.2017 Resolution of the 4th Belarusian Human Rights Forum
Participants in the 4th Belarusian Human Rights Forum have unanimously voted in favor of the resolution "On Situation of Human Rights in Belarus".
17.10.2017 Vilnius to host 4th Belarusian Human Rights Forum
On October 19-21, Vilnius will host the IV Belarusian Human Rights Forum, which is expected to be attended by 140 representatives of 29 Belarusian human rights organizations, NGOs with a human rights component I their work, as well as individual human rights defenders and experts. The Forum will bring together representatives of the Belarusian civil society organizations, as well as partners from foreign and international human rights organizations.
10.10.2017 EU and CoE call for moratorium on executions in Belarus on World Day against Death Penalty
On the European and World Day against the Death Penalty, the Council of Europe and the European Union reaffirm their strong and unequivocal opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances and for all cases. The death penalty is incompatible with human dignity. It constitutes inhuman and degrading treatment, does not have any proven deterrent effect and allows judicial errors to become irreversible and fatal.
09.10.2017 Death Penalty in Belarus: Secret Executions in the Middle of Europe
Minsk-Paris, 6 October 2017. Ahead of the International Day against the Death Penalty on the 10th of October, our organisations recall that executions continue to take place in the middle of Europe. Detained in conditions amounting to torture, in constant psychological anguish caused by the uncertainty of the timing of their execution, prisoners in Belarus are being killed in secrecy.
05.10.2017 Viasna to join World Coalition against the Death Penalty
Joining forces with supporters of the global abolitionist movement is another step of the Belarusian human rights defenders towards ending the death penalty in the country. At the same time, Belarus is marked on the world map as a place where death sentences are often imposed on representatives of the most vulnerable groups.
04.10.2017 Schedule of events within the Week against the Death Penalty
The traditional Week against the Death Penalty will be held in various parts of Belarus on October 5-10. “The death penalty is the past”. This is the key message of awareness-raising activities within the Week.
03.10.2017 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: September 2017
On 12 and 25 September, the Ministry of Justice recertified (including in several instances outside schedule) a number of defense lawyers. The country’s human rights community regarded the move as a blatant interference of government bodies in the activities of the Bar.
03.10.2017 Political prisoner Ihar Komlik released before trial
Ihar Komlik, accountant of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry (REP) and chairman of the union’s Minsk city branch, has been released from pre-trial detention in jail No. 1 in Minsk after spending two month awaiting trial in a criminal case the country’s human rights community said was politically motivated.
26.09.2017 Ongoing harassment of lawyers involved in ‘White Legion case’
The Qualification Commission of the Ministry of Justice has carried out the certification of 13 more lawyers. According to information obtained by the Human Rights Center "Viasna", there are five defenders of persons charged in the so-called ‘White Legion case’ among those who were ‘conditionally certified’. In such circumstances, the human rights defenders rule out the possibility of organizing a trial in accordance with the standards of fair justice.
