12.07.2012 Weekly analytical report on election monitoring results: July 2-8
The parliamentary election does not receive wide coverage in mass media. State-owned media ignore the election activity of the opposition forces, publishing materials about the current members of the Chamber of Representatives and the potential pro-governmental candidates.
05.07.2012 The UN Human Rights Council creates a Special Rapporteur on Belarus
Today, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted a resolution on the situation of human rights in Belarus expressing concerns over the prompt deterioration of the situation of human rights in the country following the Presidential elections of December 2010, and establishing a mandate for a Special Rapporteur to monitor the situation, work with the authorities and the domestic civil society, and report back to the Council and to the General Assembly.
02.07.2012 Weekly analytical report on monitoring results 2: June 25th – July 1st
The parties in opposition began nominating their representatives to district election commissions: as of today, they claim they have nominated more than 300 members altogether (which is almost 3 times more than during the parliamentary elections in 2008). We observe intensification of targeted repression against the opposition structures and the civic society. At the same time, the recently detained journalist Andrzej Poczobut was released on bail.
29.06.2012 A message from Aung San Suu Kyi to political prisoners
"I would like to say to prisoners of conscience all over the world: Hold fast to your convictions! Respect for humanity starts with respect for one's self. My message to you is very simple: if you respect yourself, do not forsake your struggle. And don't think that you are alone. In Burma, we often thought that we had been abandoned. And I didn't realize how wrong we were until this trip to Europe."
27.06.2012 The UN Human Rights Committee has registered a complaint, filed on behalf of Ales Bialiatski
His wife, Natalia Pinchuk and Antoine Bernard, the Chief executif officer of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), were the ones who filed the complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee on behalf of Ales Bialiatski, the Chairman of the Human Rights Center Viasna, and the Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), who is currently serving a sentence in a penal colony in the city of Bobruiks.
25.06.2012 Weekly analytical report on monitoring results: June 18 – 24
- The election campaign begins in unfavorable environment, on the background of political repression, in conditions of the pressure on the opposition forces and the civic society. Political prisoners continue to stay behind the bars, and the recent arrest of independent journalist Andrzej Poczobut demonstrates intensification of the repression against the independent media.
22.06.2012 Belarus holds another political prisoner – journalist Andrei Pachobut
Statement by the Human Rights Center “Viasna” The Human Rights Center “Viasna” strongly condemns the arrest of and libel charges brought against journalist Andrei Pachobut, and views the case as politically motivated harassment aimed at sanctioning his professional activities and freedom of expression. We consider Andrei Pachobut another political prisoner and demand his immediate and unconditional release.
21.06.2012 Election observers: “We will keep our eyes open throughout the election”
The Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign has launched a nation-wide election observation campaign ahead of the September parliamentary election at a press-conference held in Viasna’s office today.
20.06.2012 The Observatory's Urgent Appeal: Harassment of Mr. Ales Bialiatski
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has been informed about measures of reprimand and extra duty issued against Mr. Ales Bialiatski, President of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Viasna" and FIDH Vice-President and requests your urgent intervention.
19.06.2012 Tatsiana Reviaka: “Barys Zvozskau was not only an example of professionalism, but a friend of ours”
The death of prominent Belarusian human rights defender Barys Zvozskau is a great loss for Belarus. Human rights defender Tatsiana Reviaka knew Barys Zvozskau for many years.
17.06.2012 Prominent human rights defender Barys Zvozskau dies
Barys Zvozskau, a famous Belarusian human rights defender, died last night at the age of 63 after a prolonged disease.
14.06.2012 Ales Bialiatski receives reprimands in prison
The human rights activist told about the pressure he faced in prison. Ales Bialiatski, imprisoned head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, wrote about it in a letter to human rights activist Valiantsin Stefanovich:
13.06.2012 International human rights organizations stress the nead of appointing a UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus
A number of human rights organizations (Human Rights Center “Viasna”, Belarusian Human Rights House, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Human Rights House Foundation, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International) adopted a special statement describing the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus and emphasizing the need of appointing a Special Rapporteur on Belarus at the UN.
08.06.2012 Supervisory appeal of Ales Bialiatski turned down
As it became known today from a letter of the Head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna", vice-president of the International Federation of Human Rights Ales Bialiatski to his wife, the chairman of the Minsk City Court dismissed the supervisory complaint filed by the human rights activist and his lawyer against the verdict of the Pershamaiski Dstrict Court of Minsk and the ruling of the panel of judges of the Minsk City Court.
08.06.2012 Representative of commission for supervision over penitentiary institutions meets with Ales Bialiatski
On 5 June the member of the board of the civil association “Mahiliou Human Rights Center” Viktar Sidarenka paid a visit to Babruisk penal colony #2 to meet with the convicted human rights defender Ales Bialiatski.
