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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Joint Letter to Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council
In a joint statement, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), along with 30 Belarusian and international human rights organisations, call on UN Human Rights Council member States to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus during the Council’s upcoming 47th session.
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New laws will severely deteriorate human rights situation in Belarus
On 21 April, the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus approved three new laws further restricting freedoms of expression, association and assembly in the country. The laws on ‘countering extremism’, ‘rehabilitation of Nazism’ and ‘mass events’ previously passed at both first and second readings in the House of Representatives of the national Assembly almost without any discussion.
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At least 422 detained during the Freedom Day protests
Lukashenka’s administration continues its crackdown on Belarusian civil society with new arbitrary detentions, as the protests regain momentum this spring. FIDH condemns in the strongest terms the violent dispersal of peaceful protesters on 25 and 27 March and urges the Belarus authorities to stop obstructing Belarus citizens’ exercise of their legitimate right of peaceful assembly.
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Civil society organisations call for the immediate operationalisation of UN Human Rights Council’s new mandate on Belarus
We, the 63 undersigned Belarusian and international human rights organisations, welcome the resolution passed by the UN Human Rights Council mandating the High Commissioner to create a new robust monitoring and reporting mandate focused on accountability for human rights violations in Belarus that have taken place since 1 May 2020.