Exposing Crimes & Furthering Justice
Since May 2020, Belarusian journalists, lawyers, activists, and other human rights defenders have reported numerous human rights violations committed by law enforcement, documenting incidents of police brutality, torture, arbitrary detention, and violations of the right to fair trial. The government has since rewarded many direct perpetrators of the crackdowns and punished law enforcement officials who supported the protest. At the same time, the Belarusian legal system has become even more dependent on the executive, and many new laws and amendments further restrict freedom of speech, association, and assembly.
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6
restrictive laws adopted since the beginning of the crisis, at least -
4644
reported incidents of police brutality -
300
or more officials allegedly responsible for police abuse rewarded
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86
officials deprived of their ranks for supporting protesters -
5
officials imprisoned for supporting protesters, at least -
14
former officials declared terrorists for supporting protesters
Latest
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Valiantsin Stefanovic: "Today we acknowledge a deep crisis of human rights in Belarus"
On 4 September 2020, Valiantsin Stefanovic, Vice-President of the FIDH and Vice-Chairman of Viasna, a Minsk-based Human Rights Center, spoke at the United Nations Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting on Human Rights in Belarus.
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A Strong International Reaction is Needed to Prevent Further Violence Against Civil Society
On August 26, human rights organisations adressed an open letter, calling on the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) to urgently convene a Special Session to address the Belarus government’s crackdown on peaceful demonstrators and other ongoing, widespread violations of human rights, including arbitrary arrests, prosecutions under trumped-up charges, and torture and other ill-treatment, in relation to the 2020 presidential elections.
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Human Rights NGOs Call for an End to Torture and Arbitrary Arrests of Peaceful Protesters
On August 24, FIDH, The Human Rights Center “Viasna”, the Belarus Helsinki Committee (BHC) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) wrote an open letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture about the widespread torture and arbitrary arrest of peaceful protesters in Belarus (9 to 14 August 2020)
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As Protests Continue Ahead of Presidential Election, Authorities Must Refrain from Violence
The 2020 presidential election season in Belarus has been marked by an unprecedented level of protest activity and a harsh response from authorities. In addition to police violence and arbitrary arrests of peaceful protesters, since the end of July the government has been mobilising the military in an attempt to curb protesters’ activities and intimidate the opposition.
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Crackdown on Peaceful Protesters Marks Beginning of Presidential Campaign Season in Belarus
The campaign season for Belarus’ presidential elections, scheduled for August 9, saw sweeping repression against civil society by authorities. Over the past week, authorities arbitrarily detained over 100 peaceful protesters across Belarus, charging them with administrative fines and arrests.
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