21.02.2011 FIDH: Vice-President and President of Human Rights Center Viasna was issued a warning for his human rights activities

Paris, February 18 – On Wednesday February 16, the Public Prosecutor's office issued a warning to Aliaksandr Bialatski, FIDH Vice-President and President of Human Rights Center Viasna for conducting activities through a non-registered organisation.

18.02.2011 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders urges the Belarusian authorities to repeal the warning issued against Mr. Ales Bialatski

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Belarus.

18.02.2011 Repeal warning against Ales Bialiatski - Stop persecution of civil society activists in Belarus

Open Letter to the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka and to the General Prosecutor of Belarus, Ryhor Vasilevich

13.01.2011 Belarus – Widespread searches and judicial harassment of human rights defenders following Presidential Elections

Numerous individual human rights defenders and organisations have been subjected to police and judicial harassment, ill-treatment, searches and raids carried out at their offices and homes, since the unrest which followed the Presidential Elections of 19 December 2010.

24.12.2010 BELARUS: Crackdown on peaceful demonstrators and activists. FIDH's member organisation in Belarus HRC “Viasna” raided

Paris, December 20, 2010 - The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) expresses its grave concern regarding the human rights situation in Belarus, particularly in the context of the Presidential elections of December 19, 2010 after which riot police brutally dispersed a demonstration protesting against the unfair conduct of the election. Riot police beat and detained hundreds of persons, including three presidential candidates, as well as Aleh Hulak, Chairman of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and coordinator of the “Human Rights Defenders for Free Election” election monitoring campaign. He is apparently currently facing charges.

07.12.2010 Homel: human rights defender tries to return confiscated manuals for observers through court

On 30 November officers of the Ashmiany customs office examined the personal belongings of the Homel human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka who was returning home from Vilnius. They confiscated from him 10 copies of Instructions for Short-term Observers at Presidential Election of Belarus.

29.10.2010 Presidential hopefuls speak on human rights issues

The ‘Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections’ campaign activists have interviewed a number of Presidential hopefuls, inquiring about their views on human rights protection in Belarus and the possibility of introducing the post of ombudsman, in case they are elected President.

28.10.2010 Belarus: Repressions against youth activists should stop

Paris-Minsk, 26 October, 2010 - FIDH and its member organisation in Belarus, Human rights Center Viasna, express their concern regarding the Belarusian authorities’ groundless and growing repression toward certain political activists, in particular those from anarchist and anti-fascist youth movements.

19.10.2010 Ales Bialiatski: The authorities are deepening political and social crisis of the people of Belarus

Belarus has ignored most of the recommendations made during the Universal Periodic Review procedure (UPR), as well as those by the UN Human Rights Council. It can be seen from the Views and responses of the Republic of Belarus on the Conclusions adopted for further consideration by the competent authorities in the UPR on May 15, 2010. The content and the importance of these recommendations to the country’s civil society will be discussed with the chair of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski.

27.09.2010 Human rights situation in Belarus is unacceptably poor and calls for systemic measures, HR Forum participants say

On 22-25 September, Vilnius hosted a series of events, with a social focus on the human rights situation in Belarus and the activities of human rights activists. On 22-23 September, the Human Rights House Network held its annual meeting, attended by over 60 human rights defenders from 17 countries. The participants of the meeting addressed the Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka with an appeal, calling him to take urgent measures to improve the country’s human rights record.

27.09.2010 Human Rights House Network calls upon Belarus to take urgent measures to meet international human rights standards

On 22-23 September Vilnius hosted the 2010 Human Rights House Network (HRHN) Annual Meeting, a forum of cooperation between established and emerging Human Rights Houses, uniting 70 NGOs in 15 countries. The Meeting was attended by human rights defenders from 17 countries.

20.09.2010 Belarusian authorities oppose implementation of UN recommendations on abolition of Article 193-1

On 23 September the 15th session of the UN Human Rights Council is expected to approve the final text of the Universal Periodic Review. Meanwhile, the Belarusian government has not taken any steps to improve the country’s human rights record.

30.06.2010 Freedom House called regime in Belarus authoritarian

Freedom House’s report listed Belarus among authoritarian states.

The survey studies the human rights situation and democracy in 29 states of Eastern Europe and former Soviet bloc, AFN reports.

27.05.2010 Amnesty International’s Report 2010 condemns human rights abuses in Belarus

The Amnesty International human rights organization released its annual Report ‘Amnesty International Report 2010: State of the World's Human Rights’, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. The Report stresses that ‘powerful governments are blocking advances in international justice by standing above the law on human rights, shielding allies from criticism and acting only when politically convenient.’

27.05.2010 U.S. Congress to hold hearings on human rights in Belarus

This decision was made after the meeting between American politicians and Movement for Freedom leader Alexander Milinkevich.

According to the movement's press office, Milinkevich met with former United States Ambassador to Belarus Karen Stewart who is now Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Congressman Alcee Hastings, Congressman Christopher Smith who authored Belarus Democracy Act and other politicians.