News for October 2021
11.10.2021 #FreeViasna: Weekly news digest on Viasna’s imprisoned human rights defenders
On September 17, dozens of Belarusian and international human rights groups launched #FreeViasna, the campaign of solidarity with the imprisoned human rights activists of Viasna. Here’s the latest news about the Viasna members held behind bars.
10.10.2021 EU urges Belarus to move towards death penalty abolition
Video address by Dirk Schuebel, head of the EU Delegation to Belarus, on the occasion of the European and World Day against the Death Penalty
09.10.2021 Slovenia resolutely opposes the death penalty in all circumstances
Statement of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia to Belarus, marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty
08.10.2021 Ex-police officer sentenced to 2 years in prison for participating in post-election protests
The Centraĺny District Court of Minsk sentenced political prisoner Yahor Viarshynin to two years in a general-security penal colony, finding him guilty under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (“actions that grossly violate public order”).
08.10.2021 Swiss ambassador Claude Altermatt: "The trend towards worldwide abolition of the capital punishment is continuing"
On the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, Switzerland reaffirms its strong commitment to support this trend, to safeguard any achieved progress.
07.10.2021 Joint statement of Belarusian human rights organizations on violations of freedom of association and pressure on human rights organizations
To date, we know about the forced liquidation of more than 250 civil society organizations. Among them there are numerous human rights organizations.
07.10.2021 Human rights defenders call to release 73 people detained in Zeltser case
Statement by the human rights community of Belarus
06.10.2021 Political prisoner Aleh Kulesha sentenced to prison term in another dancing protest trial in Brest
The Maskoŭski District Court of Brest has convicted the eighth group of defendants in the series of trials dubbed by journalists and human rights defenders as “dancing protest case”.
06.10.2021 Political prisoners punished by solitary confinement for answering letters of solidarity
Political prisoners serving their sentences at penal colony No. 17 in Škloŭ are sent to solitary confinement or punishment cells if they reply to letters of support they receive from people they don’t know.
06.10.2021 Remaining human rights organisations liquidated in Belarus
The Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Legal Initiative, and ‘Zvyano’ have joined over 270 other NGOs that Belarus’ authorities shut down since July this year.
05.10.2021 Human rights groups insist on retrials and release of six more convicts
Joint statement of the Belarusian human rights community
05.10.2021 Andrei Paluda on the death penalty: “Without systemic changes, there will be no serious progress in solving the problem”
The annual Week Against the Death Penalty will be held in Belarus for the ninth time from October 5 to 10.
05.10.2021 Viasna shortlisted for Human Rights Tulip award
Viasna is among the twelve human rights organizations and activists shortlisted for the Human Rights Tulip 2021 award, the Government of the Netherlands, the sponsor of the prize, said.
05.10.2021 Over 110 arrested after death of KGB officer
Between September 29 and October 1, Belarusian security forces arrested dozens of people for commenting on the deaths of IT worker Andrei Zeltser and KGB officer Dzmitry Fedasiuk.
05.10.2021 Release Rabochy Rukh activists Ihar Mints and Natallia Belabekhava
Joint statement of Belarusian human rights organizations
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