27.09.2010 Human rights situation in Belarus is unacceptably poor and calls for systemic measures, HR Forum participants say
On 22-25 September, Vilnius hosted a series of events, with a social focus on the human rights situation in Belarus and the activities of human rights activists. On 22-23 September, the Human Rights House Network held its annual meeting, attended by over 60 human rights defenders from 17 countries. The participants of the meeting addressed the Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka with an appeal, calling him to take urgent measures to improve the country’s human rights record.
21.09.2010 Presidential Election: Weekly Analytical Review
The legal basis of the electoral system of the Republic of Belarus is made up of the Constitution, Electoral Code, other legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus and statements (decisions) of the Central Commission for Elections and National Referendums (hereinafter – the Central Election Commission, or the CEC).
16.09.2010 Human rights activists issue statement on start of observation campaign
The House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus has scheduled the presidential election for 19 December 2010. Under Article 81 of the Belarusian Constitution, ‘the President shall be elected directly by the people of the Republic of Belarus for a term of office of five years by universal, free, equal, direct and secret ballot.’
15.09.2010 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in July-August 2010
Socio-political life during these months was accompanied with escalation of the relations between Belarus and Russia including oil and informational war. The general situation of human rights in Belarus remained the same: restriction of freedom of word, administrative and criminal persecution of the opposition and forced dispersals of peaceful street actions.
12.07.2010 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in June 2010
On 8 June representatives of the Human Rights Center Viasna and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee held a press-conference to analyze the situation during the first six months of 2010. They stated the absence of positive changes concerning the respect of human rights along with the deterioration of the general situation due to the approach of the presidential election. What concerns the latest amendments to the Electoral Code, human rights defenders alleged that they had little influence on the latest local election, which didn't have significant differences from the previous ones.
28.06.2010 In Support of Autukhovich
The Committee for the Protection of the Repressed ‘Salidarnasts’ and the Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’ submitted an urgent appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, drawing attention to the detention conditions of the political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich.
21.06.2010 FIDH and Viasna urge Belarusian authorities to promptly render medical aid to Atukhovich
The FIDH and the Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’ have learned about the start of an open-ended hunger-strike by the imprisoned Mikalai Autukhovich after he was refused medical aid by the administration of Minsk’s detention center #1.
07.06.2010 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in May 2010
In May, the legal proceedings on four politically motivated criminal cases came to an end, two new death verdicts were issued and several peaceful actions were dispersed, including actions of activists of sexual minorities. As a result of a clash with police, youth activist Zmitser Parmon got to hospital with a broken clavicle. Although several civil activists were sentenced to arrests, the administrative persecution in May was mainly confined to fines.
31.05.2010 Joint Statement by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member-organization in Belarus Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’ express deep concern about the wave of new repressive actions (searches, interrogations and arrests) in respect of civil society activists, human rights activists, independent journalists and political opponents as well as in connection with the general deterioration of human rights situation in the country.
21.05.2010 Ales Bialiatski: ‘We must take every measure possible to stop the escalation of tension and hysteria created by the authorities ahead of the presidential election’
Earlier this year the Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’ predicted the intensification of the wave of repressions ahead of the presidential election in Belarus. But then the human rights defenders could not have foreseen whether the authorities would use criminal prosecution or repressions would have a hidden character. In what direction is the situation developing? Ales Bialiatski, head of the HRC ‘Viasna’, vice-president of the International Federation of Human Rights, gives his assessment of the events of the recent weeks.
17.05.2010 Violent dispersal and detentions of participants of Gay Pride in Minsk are violation of right to freedom of peaceful assembly and manifestation of discrimination
Statement by the Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’ On 15 May 2010, representatives of the Interior Ministry violently dispersed a peaceful demonstration of LGBT community activists. The Minsk city authorities banned the event due to a formal reason and failed to provide an opportunity to hold the demonstration in a different place, which would suit both sides.
09.05.2010 Statement of Human Rights Defenders on Autukhovich's case
On 6 May 2010, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus issued a verdict on the criminal case against Mikalai Autukhovich, Uladzimir Asipenka, Mikhail Kazlou and Aliaksandr Laryn.
09.05.2010 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in April 2010
The local council election was the main event in April. According to information of Lidziya Yarmoshyna, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission, 21,293 deputies were elected to local councils on 25 April. Among them there were nine representatives of democratic opposition, including 3 members of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, 5 members of the Belarusian Party of Leftists Fair World and 1 member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada.
03.05.2010 Public statement by Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’ concerning search at Zmitser Salauyou’s office in Navapolatsk
On 30 April the police searched the private office of the human rights defender Zmitser Salauyou in Navapolatsk. The search was sanctioned by the town procurator, Anatol Ausiuk, and V.Karenski, Chair of the operative crime detection activities section of the investigation department of the Navapolatsk Town Police Department, within the frames of the criminal case instigated under Article 341 of the Criminal Code – ‘Defilement of buildings and destruction of property’ on the fact of inscriptions with swastikas on walls of different houses of the town. Computer system units, CDs, many printed editions and white-red-flags were confiscated as a result of the search.
28.04.2010 Preliminary results of monitoring of the 2010 Local Council Elections
It should be observed that the recent amendments to the EC provided for the commissions’ composition being formed by at least 30% of representatives of political parties and other public associations. The analysis of the formation of election commissions showed that the provision was fully implemented.
