08.10.2020 Human rights activists present report on human rights situation after August 9 election
On Thursday, October 8, representatives of the Belarusian human rights coalition presented a report entitled “Belarus After Election”, which contains information about the human rights situation in Belarus in the post-election period. The experts focused on the rights to life, personal freedom and humane treatment, as well as freedom from torture. The report also touches on violations of the rights of journalists and children.
07.10.2020 20 new names on list of political prisoners
Human rights defenders call to release all persons facing "rioting" charges. Joint statement by the human rights organizations of Belarus
07.10.2020 42 rights groups: Belarus authorities must stop persecuting civil society and engage in dialogue
Belarusian human rights groups are being targeted for documenting abuses committed by the regime and helping victims. FIDH and 41 of its member organisations demand that the Belarus authorities put an end to all forms of harassment of civil society activists, including Marfa Rabkova, and start a dialogue aiming to reach a peaceful solution consistent with the people’s demand for new, democratic elections.
07.10.2020 "A paramedic came and started beating people." Survivor stories
18-year-old Illia was detained on August 11 near Pushkinskaya metro station when he was driving to his native city. He told Viasna how inhumanely he was treated and beaten in the police department and in the detention center in Akrescin Street.
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.
05.10.2020 "White paint was poured on my head. It was like a sign to beat me harder." Survivor stories
Stas Dziadou was detained on August 11 in Minsk next to the Peoples' Friendship Park. Stas and his friend were walking along Arlouskaya Street when they were overtaken by two vans with tinted windows. A law enforcement officer wearing a green uniform came out. The couple asked him how dangerous it was to go forward.
05.10.2020 250 detained in eighth weekly post-election protest
Some 250 protesters were detained during yesterday’s demonstrations held in Minsk and other cities of Belarus, including Brest, Salihorsk, Mahilioŭ, Babrujsk and Hrodna.
03.10.2020 Human rights groups call to release three opposition activists facing rioting charges
Joint statement by the human rights organizations of Belarus
02.10.2020 Human Rights Situation in Belarus: September 2020
During the month, the authorities actively applied criminal prosecution for political reasons. Seventy-four political prisoners continued to be held in detention, and the number continues to grow. The total number of citizens held in criminal cases during the electoral and post-electoral periods has reached 242.
01.10.2020 Ales Bialiatski and Viasna win Right Livelihood Award
The Swedish Right Livelihood Foundation named today the winners of its annual award, popularly called the Alternative Nobel Prize. This year’s laureates include the Human Rights Center "Viasna" and its chairman Ales Bialiatski.
30.09.2020 Convicted protesters in Maladziečna are political prisoners
Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community on the sentencing of Uladzislau Yeustsihneyeu and Pavel Piaskou
30.09.2020 "One of them beats you and the other aims at you with a machine gun." Survivor stories
28-year-old Minsk resident Uladzislau Salavey, a kindergarten teacher assistant, was detained on August 9 and placed in the detention center in Akrescin Street. There, he was sentenced to 14 days of arrest and then transferred to a compulsory rehabilitation center near Sluck to serve his time. Uladzislau told "Viasna" what he and others had to go through in those five days of detention.
29.09.2020 Two protesters go to prison over violence in election picket
Two men in Maladziečna, a city 70 kms northeast of Minsk, were found guilty today of using violence against riot police officers during a protest held on June 19. Pavel Piaskou, 31, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison, and Uladzislau Yeustsihneyeu, 25, was sentenced to three years, both under Art. 363, Part 2 of the Criminal Code.
29.09.2020 "They took away my bra with a breast prosthesis." Survivor stories
Maryia Ambrosava from Minsk told Viasna how she and her husband Yury went to a police station on August 10th to report their son missing, but found themselves in a police van and spent four days in the detention center in Akrescin Street. All these days, they were not aware that their son had been released, so when people were shouting from beatings, Maryia felt it was her son who was screaming.
28.09.2020 Day 50 of protests marred by new detentions
At least 340 persons were detained during yesterday’s protests held in a dozen cities across Belarus. Some 250 demonstrators were detained in Minsk. There were detentions in Mahilioŭ, Hrodna, Viciebsk, Brest, Salihorsk, Maladziečna, Žodzina, Orša, Baranavičy and others.
