The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for November 2020

10.11.2020 Rape threats and "shared responsibility". Survivor stories

Some 10 minutes later another van arrived and they threw me there, face against the wall and hands behind my back. There were about 10 people in the cage, including a girl – she was detained because she had bandages and cotton wool in her bag. She was psychologically pressured and cursed.

10.11.2020 Amnesty International: Arrest of over 1,000 protesters "takes the human rights crisis in Belarus to a new level"

More than 1,000 people arrested in a single day of peaceful protests amid escalating repression of rights

10.11.2020 Members of the Bundestag take over godparenthood for Ivan Komar, Viachaslau Rahashchuk and Maryia Babovich

As part of the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou of Libereco, members of the Bundestag Margit Stumpp (Bündnis90/DieGrünen), Heribert Hirte (CDU) and Barbara Hendricks (SPD) have taken over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.

09.11.2020 Eduard Palchys new political prisoner

Joint statement by the human rights organizations of Belarus on recognizing Eduard Palchys as a political prisoner

09.11.2020 Over 1,000 protesters detained amid violent dispersals

Over 1,000 peaceful protesters were detained yesterday, mostly in Minsk and in other cities of Belarus, as riot police and other law enforcement forces violently dispersed a dozen demonstrations. The Minsk protest was the thirteenth consecutive Sunday assembly held since the August 9 election.

07.11.2020 Civic Solidarity Platform statement on the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report on Belarus

Civic Solidarity Platform (CSP) has issued a statement on the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report on Belarus calling for the international community to undertake effective and coordinated actions to implement its recommendations. The statement is signed by several CSP member organisations including Human Rights House Foundation.

06.11.2020 Members of the Bundestag take over godparenthood for Viktar Kuushynau, Rastsislau Stefanovich and Artsiom Khvashcheuski

As part of the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou of Libereco, members of the Bundestag Wiebke Esdar (SPD), Kai Gehring (Bündnis90/DieGrünen) and Stefan Gelbhaar (Bündnis90/DieGrünen) have taken over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.

06.11.2020 OSCE Moscow Mechanism Report Details Widespread Rights Violations in Belarus

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)’s Moscow Mechanism report on Belarus released on November 5 describes sustained human rights violations and abuses committed on a massive scale and with impunity by the Belarusian authorities during the fraudulent August 9 election and its aftermath.

05.11.2020 19 more persons qualify as political prisoners

Joint statement of the Belarusian human rights organizations

04.11.2020 Members of the Bundestag take over godparenthood for Uladzislau Yeustsihneyeu, Mikhail Zhamchuzhny and Uladzislau Karetski

As part of the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou of Libereco, members of the Bundestag Saskia Esken (SPD), Gisela Maderla (CDU) and Gerhard Zickenheiner (Bündnis90/DieGrünen) have taken over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.

04.11.2020 Amnesty International condemns Belarus's decision to unleash mass criminal proceedings against hundreds of peaceful protesters

The Belarusian authorities clearly fear freedom of peaceful assembly in the country, and are now criminalizing it wholesale, by attempting to prosecute 231 detained protesters in one single case.

03.11.2020 UN experts decry threats against women human rights defenders in Belarus

Independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council criticised Belarus for persecuting women human rights defenders in the context of the mass protests taking place in the country since August.

03.11.2020 Immediately release Viasna member Maryna Kastylianchanka!

Statement of the Board of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” in connection with the detention of a member of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Maryna Kastylianchanka and the detention of a volunteer of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Aliaksandr Paplauski

02.11.2020 231 named suspects in new “rioting” case

The Investigative Committee says 231 people detained after yesterday’s protest in Minsk are suspects in a criminal case of “breaching public order.”

02.11.2020 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: October 2020

During the month, the authorities continued to routinely prosecute citizens for political reasons. There are 101 political prisoners at the moment, and the number continues to increase. The total number of people targeted by criminal cases in the election and post-election period is more than 700 people.