News on the topic: statement
20.02.2013 Human rights defenders demand transparency in Andrei Haidukou’s case
Statement Minsk, February 19, 2013 Belarusian human rights organizations demand transparency and compliance with all the procedural guarantees in the case of Andrei Haidukou facing charges of spying.
25.10.2012 Amnesty International: Urgent action needed as charges sustained against journalist Andrzej Poczobut
Charges against journalist Andrzej Poczobut of “libelling the President” have not been dropped. He still faces a prison sentence in Belarus of more than seven years. He has been targeted for his work as a journalist and for the legitimate exercise of his right to freedom of expression.
03.10.2012 Amnesty International: Activist threatened with rape and torture
Activist and prisoner of conscience Zmitser Dashkevich is being threatened with rape and torture in a penal colony in Mazyr, south-west Belarus, where he was transferred after his sentence on 28 August for allegedly violating prison rules entered into force.
31.08.2012 FIDH and “Viasna” condemn sentence imposed on Zmitser Dashkevich
FIDH and Viasna urge the Belarusian authorities to put an end to any kind of harassment against Mr. Dashkevich and to immediately and unconditionally release him, as well as all political prisoners in Belarus.
21.08.2012 Amnesty International: Men released on bail still face prison
After spending more than a month in detention, Anton Suryapin and Syarhei Basharimau were released on bail on 17 August. They still face a prison sentence of up to seven years on charges in connection to the ‘teddy bear stunt’ by Swedish advertising company calling for freedom of expression in Belarus.
20.08.2012 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders strongly condemns harassment of Ms. Tatsiana Revyaka
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), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Belarus.
31.07.2012 Support Ales Bialiatski on 4 August!
The Human Rights Center “Viasna” is calling on its colleagues, representatives of international and Belarusian human rights organizations to arrange actions of solidarity with Ales Bialiatski, head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” and vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), who was arrested on August 4, 2011 and later sentenced to four and a half years of imprisonment for his human rights activities.
30.07.2012 Reporters Without Borders condemns journalist Vital Ruhayn’s arrest in Minsk
“Vital Ruhayn’s arrest is indicative of the regime’s sensitivities about matters related – closely or otherwise – to the Minsk bombing and national security,” Reporters Without Borders said. “A journalist should not be arrested for highlighting police violations of security regulations. We call for the withdrawal of the trumped-up charges brought against him.”
27.07.2012 Joint Statement of 15 international MPs on the situation in Belarus
27.07.2012 Polish MEP Marek Migalski, as a participant in Libereco-Partnership for Human Rights’ Prisoner’s Godparenthood Campaign, issued a statement on the situation in Belarus, which was supported by 14 other international members of parliament. Today, they expressed their support for the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus and called upon Belarusian authorities to cease the persecution of dissidents, human rights defenders and journalists in Belarus and to release and exonerate all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.
26.07.2012 Human rights activists urge Supreme Court and Prosecutor General's Office to discuss situation with illegal preventive detentions of civil society activists
Representatives of a number of leading human rights organizations of Belarus – Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Human Rights Center "Viasna", Committee for the Protection of the Repressed "Solidarity", the Centre for Legal Transformation and the Center for Human Rights – have sent a joint appeal to the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus Aliaksandr Kaniuk and Chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus Valiantsin Sukala requesting a meeting to discuss the situation with illegal preventive detentions of civil society activists and representatives of youth opposition groups, in order to put an end to this illegal practice and bring the perpetrators to justice.
25.07.2012 The Observatory: Travel ban imposed on “Viasna” Vice-President Valentin Stefanovich was a "mistake"
Paris-Geneva, July 25, 2012. 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), welcomes the official lifting of the travel ban imposed by mistake on the Vice-President of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Viasna”, Mr. Valentin Stefanovich.
24.07.2012 “Viasna” demands to release Anton Surapin and Siarhei Basharymau
The Human Rights Center “Viasna” views the arrest and detention of Anton Surapin and Siarhei Basharymau as an escalation of fear in society and an attempt to shift responsibility for the improper protection of state borders and airspace to ordinary citizens.
24.07.2012 Amnesty International urges Belarus to release “teddy bear” free speech activist
A photographer and journalism student faces up to seven years in prison after posting pictures of a stunt involving teddy bears to draw attention to violations of freedom of expression in Belarus, prompting Amnesty International to call for his immediate release.
23.07.2012 FIDH demands to immediately and unconditionally release Zmitser Dashkevich
We are writing to express our concern regarding a new investigation launched against the civil activist, head of the political organization “Youth Front” Mr. Zmitser Dashlevich who was sentenced on 24 March, 2011 to 2 years of imprisonment in a high-security colony No.13 in Hlybokaye and who is expected to be released on December 18, 2012.
18.07.2012 Amnesty International: Youth leader faces longer prison sentence
Zmitser Dashkevich, a prisoner of conscience in Belarus, is facing another year in prison for allegedly violating prison rules. He has spent almost his entire sentence in punishment cells.
