Actions to immediately release political prisoners in Belarus discussed at the OSCE Human Dimension Conference
The parallel event “Ales Bialiatski:
symbolical case of violation of political and political rights in Belarus after
the presidential elections of 2010”
took place within the framework of the yearly Human Dimension Meeting of the OSCE.
It was organized by a coalition of human rights organizations including the
Norwegian Human Rights Committee, Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights,
World Organization against Torture, Amnesty International, Human Rights House
Foundation, Human Rights Watch, Front Line, the International Federation for
Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human
Rights Center
Viasna. It was attended by former
political prisoner Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, presidential candidate Vital
Rymasheuski and leaders of the democratic parties of Belarus.
Valiantsin Stefanovich, deputy chairman of the HRC Viasna, told the present people about the wave of repressions that
started in Belarus
after the presidential elections of 19 December 2010. He also spoke about the
details of the criminal case that had been brought against Ales Bialiatski, chairman
of the HRC Viasna and vice-President
of the International Federation for Human Rights.
Andrei Bastunets, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists,
dedicated his speech to repressions against independent journalists and the situation
of private media after the presidential elections of 2010.
After this the floor was taken by ex-political prisoner Uladzimir Kobets, head
of the electoral headquarters of presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau. Mr. Kobets
voiced the latest information about political prisoners Andrei Sannikau and
Zmitser Dashkevich. Representatives of human rights organizations and political
activists took part in the discussion of possible actions for the immediate
release of prisoners.
At the end of the side-event Valiantsin Stefanovich pointed that the rescue of Andrei
Sannikau and Zmitser Dashkevich is the duty of all human rights defenders.
