Offence of authorities on human rights organizations is a challenge for Belarusian human rights community
Assembly of Democratic Non-Governmental Organizations of Belarus notes
with concern the intensification of the offensive on the human rights community
of the country by the authorities. Arrest and prosecution of Ales Bialiatski,
leader of the Human Rights Center Viasna,
is a demonstrative action which seeks to intimidate and destroy the Belarusian
human rights movement.
Human rights NGOs are one of the most efficient and
effective components of the Belarusian civil society which is distinguished by its
professionalism and courage.
The
work of the Belarusian human rights defenders has always encountered opposition
from the state authorities of Belarus
who do not recognize the universal values of human rights and ignore the
world's humanitarian standards.
After the events of 19
December last year, given the rapid deterioration of the situation of human
rights and flagrant violation of basic principles of the rule of law by the
Belarusian authorities, human rights activists have been at the forefront of
the struggle for human dignity and democracy in Belarus. Belarusian human rights
organizations and human rights activists, acting as individuals, took up the
challenge and managed to oppose the machine of authoritarian rule effectively
and consistently.
This selfless and courageous work of the members and volunteers of the
human rights movement has now become the main obstacle to the creation of a
police state in Belarus.
We note with concern that
in July-August 2011, human rights organizations have become targets for the
complex of repressive actions of the Belarusian authorities. Cruel and
comprehensive nature of this company causes an extraordinary concern: the
attack concerns leaders of the national human rights movement who constitute
the most active core of the national civil society:
In particular, the national human rights public
association Belarusian Helsinki Committee
was issued with written warnings was repeatedly required to pay huge economic
sanctions for the election observation activities held a decade ago. This
organization, as well as the educational institution, Center for Legal Transformation, faced with sanctions for
collecting information on human rights and its representation in international
bodies, including United Nations. A number
of human rights activists from organizations that have been denied official
registration, are under constant threat of criminal prosecution under Article
193-1 of the Penal Code.
The instigation of the
criminal case against a leader of the Belarusian human rights defender, founder
and Chairperson of the Human
Rights Center
Viasna Ales Bialiatski, who is also vice-President
of the International Federation for Human Rights, and his detention cause our
especial concern and indignation. These actions by the authorities contradict
to the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and obligations
under international law and the Constitution of Belarus. They are unacceptable
and insulting to the country.
The Council of the Assembly of NGOs of Belarus:
- calls on the authorities
to release Ales Bialiatski and terminate the proceedings in his criminal case;
- calls on all structures of civil society in
Belarus to show solidarity and support for human rights organizations and human
rights defenders who face persecution;
- calls on the
international community and intergovernmental organizations to use all possible
political and legal measures for the suspension of attacks against human rights
defenders in Belarus,
The Council of the Assembly of Democratic NGOs in
Belarus separately addresses the states of the European Union which support the
development of democracy and civil society in Belarus, asking them to refrain from
actions that contribute to the repressive agencies of the Belarusian state in
their unlawful and politically motivated pressure on human rights defenders.
5 August 2011
Press-service of the Assembly of NGOs
