News on the topic: freedom of peaceful assembly
05.02.2021 Political prisoner Yauhen Kakhanouski sentenced to 3 ½ years in prison
Political prisoner Yauhen Kakhanouski has been sentenced to three and a half years in a general-security penal colony. Another defendant in the case, Dzmitry Hopta, was sentenced to two years.
01.02.2021 Former political prisoner Aleh Mazhou sentenced to three years of restricted freedom
The Lieninski District Court of Minsk sentenced today 26-year-old athlete Aleh Mazhou to three years of restricted freedom in an open penitentiary (so-called “khimiya”), finding him guilty of “group actions gravely breaching public order” (Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code). The criminal case was condemned by Belarusian human rights defenders as politically motivated.
28.01.2021 New report exposes denial of justice for victims of torture and police violence
Authorities in Belarus are using a variety of stratagems to thwart fair investigations into hundreds of complaints of violence and acts of torture by security forces following disputed presidential elections, says a report published today by two human rights groups, the Committee Against Torture (CAT Russia) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).
27.01.2021 31 new political prisoners. HRDs insist on retrials and release of convicts
Joint statement of the Belarusian human rights community
27.01.2021 Impunity for perpetrators of torture reinforces need for international justice
A new report by Amnesty International reveals how the Belarusian authorities have weaponized the justice system to punish victims of torture rather than perpetrators, as part of a widespread and brutal crackdown on dissent in the wake of post-election protests.
26.01.2021 Political prisoner Yan Salanovich released
Yan Salanovich, a former university student and employee of the KGB’s research and technology center, has been released after spending 87 days in detention. The authorities failed to provide explanation for the unexpected decision.
29.12.2020 Political prisoners Kireshchanka and Harokh sentenced to 1 1/2 and 7 years in prison
The Court of Navahrudak district sentenced today Dzianis Kireshchanka and Uladzimir Harokh to 18 months and 7 years in prison, respectively, finding them guilty of “organizing riots” (Parts 1 and 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code). Both were earlier called political prisoners by the country’s leading human rights groups, including Viasna.
22.12.2020 Three protesters convicted in traffic obstruction trial
The Lieninski District Court of Minsk ruled today to sentence Volha Klaskouskaya to two years in prison on charges of “blocking vehicular traffic” during a demonstration on October 13. Two more defendants, Artur Bulauski and a minor Maksim Babich, were sentenced to two and a half and three years of restricted liberty (“home imprisonment”).
17.12.2020 Amnesty International: Witness in police killing of protester faces life sentence
Belarusian authorities are attempting to cover up the killing of a peaceful protester by police by bringing serious criminal charges against a key witness, Amnesty International said.
09.12.2020 New report on post-election protests presented in Minsk. Full English text
A coalition of Belarusian human rights defenders presented today a report entitled “Belarus. August 2020: “Justice” for Protesters.” It highlights violations of the standards of a fair trial after tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators protested the rigged presidential election and thousands were detained en masse and were convicted in August 2020.
07.12.2020 Swiss national gets 2 ½ years in prison for tearing balaclava off riot policeman
Natallia Hersche, a Belarus-born 51-year-old Swiss national, has been sentenced today to two and a half years in prison for removing a balaclava from a riot police officer during a protest on September 19.
01.12.2020 Immediately release political prisoner Yan Salanovich!
Joint statement by the human rights organizations of Belarus
30.11.2020 Day 113 of protests: over 400 detained
At least 416 persons were detained yesterday as a result of several dozen simultaneous protests held in many localities across Belarus on the 16th consecutive Sunday since the rigged presidential election of August 9. Some 250 demonstrators were detained in Minsk, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
23.11.2020 380 detained on Day 106 of post-election protests
At least 379 protesters were detained yesterday in Minsk and other cities of Belarus, according to Viasna’s database. Only a few were released, while most are expected to stand administrative trials in the coming days.
20.11.2020 Convicted protesters lose appeal in “resisting arrest” trial
The Minsk City Court upheld today the sentences of imprisonment earlier handed down to two protesters arrested on charges of using violence when resisting arrest at an election rally. The sentences were condemned as politically motivated by the country’s human rights community.
