22.04.2011 Statement of the Steering Council of the Committee on International Control

The participating organizations of the Committee on International Control over the Situation with Human Rights in Belarus are concerned about the situation regarding representatives of the International Observation Mission, established under the auspices of the Committee. These concerns are especially relevant in light of recent invocation of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism with regard to Belarus and also in the light of statements of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus containing claims that Belarus strictly observes all OSCE commitments in the human dimension.

18.04.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (11-17 April)

The past week was marred by a terrible tragedy that made all other events fall by the wayside: on 11 April Minsk Kastrychnitskaya central metro station was rocked by a powerful blast, claiming 13 lives and causing injuries to over 200 more people. April 13 was declared a national day of morning. The explosion was qualified as an act of terrorism, the news that shocked Belarus as it had always been thought of as a rather safe country. On 12 April, a PACE meeting in Strasbourg considered the scheduled Belarusian issues, which was condemned by the official media, who labeled the human rights defenders attending the meeting as “a fifth column”, naming their actions “dance on bones”. However, the state-run media failed to mention a one-minute silence that opened the PACE session. A number of Belarusian politicians and journalists, including opposition leader Aliaksandr Milinkevich, independent columnist Aliaksandr Starykevich and former KGB officer Valery Kostka, were officially warned by the General Prosecutor’s Office for alleged dissemination of “ungrounded data on the 11 April tragedy.” Furthermore, the Information Ministry issued similar warnings to the Nasha Niva and Narodnaya Volya independent periodicals, together with the UzHorak minor local newspaper. Several case files of persons involved in the 19 December 2010 events were submitted to courts. Civil activists kept campaigning for the release of journalist Andrzej Poczobut, arrested on charges of libel of the President.

11.04.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (4-10 April)

The recent social and political developments in the country have been accompanied by certain economic instability, with gradual increase in exchange rates and rush demand on the foreign currency and food markets. The 19 December 2010 “mass riot” criminal case is still underway: the Interior Ministry has announced the termination of the preliminary investigation activities. The case files of former presidential candidates Mikalai Statkevich and Dzmitry Us have been submitted to courts for consideration. Four more persons involved in the case – Zmitser Bandarenka, Pavel Seviarynets, Iryna Khalip and Siarhei Martsaleu – are now facing milder charges. Minsk City Court dismissed the appeals by Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, Dzmitry Novik and Aliaksandr Malchanau, who had been earlier convicted under Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. The General Prosecutor’s Office refused to initiate criminal proceedings following a torture report by former presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevich. Andrzej Poczobut, journalist and activist of the opposition Union of Poles, faces charges under two criminal articles – Par. 1 Art. 386 (“insult of President”) and Par. 1 Art. 367 (“libel of President”). Two KGB prisoners – UCP leader Anatol Liabedzka and “Tell the Truth” activist Aliaksandr Fiaduta – were released on recognizance.

31.03.2011 Le Monde: Lukashenka must be stopped now, otherwise he to become new Gaddafi

Wile the attention of the West is locked on revolutions in Arab world, the dictatorship in Belarus is speeding up the flywheel of repressions.

On March 24 the founder and chairman of Vyasna human rights centre Ales Byalyatski visited Paris. He urged the French Foreign Ministry to impose economic sanctions against the Belarusian regime, Le Monde writes.

31.03.2011 International Herald Tribune: Soviet- era echoes in punishment for Belarus family

Andrei Vilkin has long been celebrated in Belarus for his skills as a karate master and a coach. The patriarch of a family of decorated martial artists, he has filled his living room with the hallmarks of his success: trophies from world championships and national awards for ‘‘ service to the motherland.’’ But they are of little help to him now.

28.03.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (March 21-27)

On 22 March, two Minsk courts opened the hearings on politically motivated criminal cases: Young Front leaders Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobau faced charged for malicious hooliganism and were eventually convicted (Dashkevich was sentenced to 2 years and Lobau – to 4 years in a high-security penal colony). The trial of youth opposition activist Mikita Likhavid accused of participation in the 19 December 2010 mass riot was postponed till 29 March. An unprecedented number of police employees (31) act as victims in the case. The historic 25 March Freedom Day anniversary was marked by harsh repressions against opposition and independent media. Meanwhile, the authorities banned all opposition rallies across the country, preventing local activists from going to Minsk. Two journalists were sentenced to administrative arrests – Aliaksandr Lashmankin (editor of the Russian Svoboda news agency) and BelaPAN Mahiliou reporter Ales Asiptsou. Another journalist Uladzimir Laptsevich is currently in custody awaiting trial on similar charges.

21.03.2011 Weekly review of post-election situation in Belarus (March 14-20)

Politically motivated prosecutions have continued to gather pace: charges concerning the 19 December events were brought against another former presidential candidate Dzmitry Us, charges against another former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich were changed. Within the framework of the criminal case, law enforcement agencies continued carrying out interrogations and searches. Ales Mikhalevich left Belarus in fear of another arrest, following his release on recognizance. Human rights defenders encountered new harassment facts. Freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly were still considerably restricted. More detentions were reported. The existence of a “black list” was reported by the media: the authorities banned a number of concerts by Belarusian rock bands. Six artworks to be exhibited at the “Pahonia” art exhibition were rejected due to censorship.

18.03.2011 Belarus representatives duck dialogue at UN Human Rights Council

On 14 March, the 16th session of the UN Human Rights Council adopted a joint statement on the situation in Belarus, which was signed by 45 countries, including all the EU members. The statement calls the Belarusian authorities and President Aliaksandr Lukashenka in particular to promptly and unconditionally release and rehabilitate all the persons arrested on political grounds after the 19 December 2010 election.

15.03.2011 Belarus: Disbarment of human rights lawyer Mr Pavel Sapelka

On 3 March 2011, the Board of the Minsk City Bar disbarred human rights lawyer Mr Pavel Sapelka following prolonged pressure from the Belarusian Ministry of Justice. Pavel Sapelka is a well-known lawyer, member of Presidium of Minsk City Bar, who has worked at the legal consultation office No 2, Savetsky district, Minsk since 1994.

23.02.2011 ODIHR publishes final report on Belarus presidential election

The 19 December presidential election in Belarus was marked by a lack of independence and impartiality of the election administration, an uneven playing field and a restrictive media environment, as well as a lack of transparency at key stages of the electoral process, concludes ODIHR’s final report published on 22 February.

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.