The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

22.04.2021 Viasna activist Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk walks free after 8 days in jail

Viasna human rights activist Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk was sentenced to 15 days but walked free early after a successful appeal hearing.

19.04.2021 Viasna issues new report on protest-related administrative cases

Viasna’s lawyers and analysts have prepared and published a report entitled “Politically Motivated Administrative Proceedings: Standards and Reality in Contemporary Belarus”.

15.04.2021 Viasna human rights activist Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk jailed in Baranavičy, goes on hunger strike

Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk, activist of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” in Baranavičy, was sentenced to 15 days in prison. However, it is still unknown what charges he faced.

18.02.2021 Viasna human rights defender Dzmitry Salauyou sentenced to 12 days in prison

Dzmitry Salauyou, human rights defender and member of the Board of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, was sentenced today to 12 days of administrative detention, after Judge Anzhalika Kazlova of the Minsk District Court found him guilty of “illegal picketing” (Art. 23.34 of the Administrative Code).

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.

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.

01.12.2020 Immediately release political prisoner Yan Salanovich!

Joint statement by the human rights organizations of Belarus

18.11.2020 Viasna journalist gets 15 more days in prison

Maryna Kastylianchanka, Viasna member and journalist, has been sentenced to another 15 days of administrative detention, after a mock trial held in the Baranavičy detention facility on Tuesday, November 17.

16.11.2020 Over 1,000 detained again in Sunday protests

At least 1,127 protesters were detained yesterday across Belarus, as riot police and other law enforcement officers violently dispersed a dozen protests, including the 14th consecutive weekly demonstration in Minsk since the August 9 presidential election.

03.11.2020 Immediately release Viasna member Maryna Kastylianchanka!

Statement of the Board of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” in connection with the detention of a member of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Maryna Kastylianchanka and the detention of a volunteer of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Aliaksandr Paplauski

09.10.2020 Salihorsk human rights activist sentenced to 10 days in prison

Leanid Markhotka, an activist of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, has been sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention in Salihorsk. The reasons for the court ruling, however, are not known.

06.10.2020 Courts convict participants in Sunday protest

A total of 188 persons have been convicted of “illegal protesting” following their involvement in the March for the Liberation of Political Prisoners held on October 4.

01.10.2020 Amnesty International: Free LGBT+ activist Victoria Biran

On 26 September human rights activist Victoria Biran was detained on her way to the Women’s March in Minsk. Two days later she was sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention which she is serving at the infamous detention centre on Akrestina street which has become synonymous with torture. In numerous similar cases the detention has been extended. As an LGBT+ activist, Victoria Biran is at heightened risk of ill-treatment. She is a prisoner of conscience and must be released immediately and unconditionally.

28.09.2020 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders concerned about Liudmila Kazak’s detention

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