News for January 2025
21.01.2025 An imprisoned Nobel laureate underscores human rights abuses in Belarus
Belarus will hold a presidential election on Jan. 26 with no real opposition candidates. That all but assures a seventh term for Lukashenka.
21.01.2025 Statement on the recognition of 15 new political prisoners
Statement by the human rights community of Belarus
20.01.2025 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus invited the OSCE to observe the elections*. The ODIHR answered why it was late
On January 17, the OSCE/ODIHR responded to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus on the invitation to the elections.
17.01.2025 40.5% of all the "extremist" rulings were issued in 2024. What was recognized as "extremist" last year
Viasna reports how in 2024 the Belarusian courts were zealous with decisions on recognizing materials as "extremist" and also recalls which information received an "extremist" status.
16.01.2025 71 convicted of "terrorism" in Belarus: from women to foreigners
The defendants in the Autukhovich case, Mačuliščy case, Haidukevich case, and Civil Self-Defense Unit of Belarus case.
15.01.2025 Suicides and suicide attempts: an extreme form of protest against violence and lawlessness
Viasna cites the most high-profile cases of suicides and suicide attempts among Belarusians who have been persecuted or convicted for political reasons.
14.01.2025 December: significant increase in cases of politically motivated criminal prosecution
Viasna human rights defenders note that according to preliminary data, at least 188 people were persecuted in December, and 144 in November.
13.01.2025 In December, at least 20 political prisoners served their full sentences, and 49 people were pardoned.
What political prisoners served their sentences for and how many of them were imprisoned. Viasna recalls their cases.
10.01.2025 Nakanishi Masatoshi, a Japanese political prisoner, is being tried
The Japanese citizen faces up to 7 years in a penal colony.
10.01.2025 Employee of the EU delegation in Belarus sentenced to 4 years in a penal colony
Mikalai Khila was found guilty under two articles: Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code (incitement of other social hatred or hostility) and Part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code (calls for sanctions).
10.01.2025 In 2024, 89 "extremist formations" were recognized, including media, a theater troupe, and public organizations.
Viasna reports what was recognized as an "extremist formation" in 2024.
09.01.2025 "Millet followed oatmeal." Former political prisoners described the schedule in penal colonies
At least 1,280 political prisoners celebrated the Christmas holidays behind bars. For some, this was the fifth New Year in prison in a row. Former political prisoners living in different parts of the world described the prison schedule.
09.01.2025 More than 5,800 convicts: results of administrative prosecution in 2024
Viasna reports in numbers how Belarusians were administratively persecuted in 2024, and also recalls the most repressive judges in Belarus.
09.01.2025 Human rights situation in Belarus. December 2024
Repression and state terror continue to characterize the domestic policy of the Lukashenka totalitarian regime. Anyone suspected of disloyalty to the authorities may be targeted.
09.01.2025 Elections*2025. Analytical report on the formation of precinct commissions
The expert election* 2025 observation mission was organized by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Viasna Human Rights Center as part of the "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" campaign. The mission collects and analyzes information about the election campaign based on open sources and messages from voters from Belarus.
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