News for November 2020
17.11.2020 Escalating police violence in Belarus unacceptable, says OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President, urging investigations
With widespread protests ongoing in Belarus for more than 100 days, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli reacted to increasing reports of excessive and disproportionate force by law enforcement. Police have reportedly used flash grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas, the President noted, and more than 1,200 people were detained on Sunday after demonstrations commemorating the death of protester Raman Bandarenka, a 31-year old activist who died in a hospital last week after reportedly being beaten by security forces.
16.11.2020 "They broke my ribs and found me guilty." Survivor stories
We were sitting with heads lowered and hands behind our heads. It seemed like I had got into some movie. The riot policemen were rudely speaking to us all the time. They said: 'So you want freedom? Do you need change? Do you lack anything? We will show you another life now!'
16.11.2020 Position of Belarusian human rights organizations on the death of Raman Bandarenka
Numerous video footage of the incident and testimonies by eyewitnesses allow us to conclude that officers of special units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus were involved in the crime with a high degree of probability.
16.11.2020 MPs from Germany, the Netherlands and Austria take over godparenthood for Hanna Sunhurava, Daniil Bohnat and Mikalai Saseu
As part of the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou of Libereco, Nicola Beer (European Parliament, FDP, Germany), Bram van Ojik (Second Chamber, Groenlinks, Netherlands) and Helmut Brandstätter (National Council, Neos, Austria) have taken over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.
16.11.2020 #100DaysOfViolence – Belarusians in need of solidarity
Monday, 16 November, marks 100 days since rigged presidential elections have sparked widespread protests all over Belarus. The regime of Dictator Alexander Lukashenko reacted with violence. But the demonstrations against him and in support for democratization did not stop – just as the brutal repressions.
16.11.2020 Over 1,000 detained again in Sunday protests
At least 1,127 protesters were detained yesterday across Belarus, as riot police and other law enforcement officers violently dispersed a dozen protests, including the 14th consecutive weekly demonstration in Minsk since the August 9 presidential election.
14.11.2020 Amnesty International: Authorities in Belarus continue to rule by terror
The authorities in Belarus continue to rule by terror, targeting dissenting voices with violence and imprisonment. They must immediately launch a prompt, thorough, impartial and independent investigation into Raman Bandarenka’s killing and bring the perpetrators to account in fair trials. Instead, the authorities are trying to deflect responsibility by alleging that Raman Bandarenka was beaten by ‘concerned citizens.’
14.11.2020 Violations continuing against Belarus protesters, UN human rights office warns
More than three months on from the disputed presidential election in Belarus, the Belarusian Government continues to “wield the machinery of the State to commit human rights violations”, the Spokesperson for the UN human rights office warned on Friday.
13.11.2020 Impunity for human rights abuses in Belarus must end, OSCE human rights office says
As pervasive violations of OSCE commitments and international human rights obligations in Belarus continue, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) calls on the country’s authorities to end impunity of those responsible for human rights violations, up to and including deaths, and hold them to account.
13.11.2020 Ales Bialiatski: “The fault for Raman Bandarenka’s death lies with the Interior Ministry”
Last night, November 12, a 31-year-old artist Raman Bandarenka died in a Minsk hospital after being beaten by unknown persons believed to be plain-clothed police officers. The Human Rights Center "Viasna" demands the initiation of a criminal case, investigation and punishment for those responsible for Raman's death.
13.11.2020 "When they looked at my ID, the beating became softer." Survivor stories
Minsk resident Piotr Kiryk was detained at about midnight on August 12 when he was getting off a bus with a friend (between Malinaŭka and Piatroŭščyna metro stations). The boy was 16 years old (17 at the moment), but this did not stop the riot police from using force against him.
12.11.2020 Nearly 1,000 criminal cases: Aftermath of presidential election and post-election protests
Over 900 persons in Belarus have been targeted by criminal charges related to the August 9 presidential election and the post-election protests that followed, according to Viasna’s estimates.
12.11.2020 Say No to Major Sports Event in Belarus Amid Human Rights Crisis
Joint statement by human rights organizations on Ice Hockey World Championship 2021 in Belarus
11.11.2020 Members of Parliament from Austria and Germany take over godparenthood for Artsiom Sauchuk, Pavel Yukhnevich and Antanina Kanavalava
As part of the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou of Libereco, Gudrun Kugler (National Council, ÖVP, Austria), Johannes Schraps (Bundestag, SPD, Germany) and Katja Leikert (Bundestag, CDU, Germany) have taken over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.
11.11.2020 Three months after, still no justice for people who died in protests
In August, within days of one another, three people were laid to rest after attending post-election protests that were met with police violence and non-lethal weapons. In Minsk, Aliaksandr Taraikouski died from a rubber bullet wound. Henadz Shutau from Brest died a few days later under similar circumstances. Aliaksandr Vikhor from Homieĺ was detained, and three days later, the young man died in hospital.
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