Permanent Delegation of Norway to the OSCE: Statement on Belarus

Submitted by admin on Sat, 03/10/2012 - 09:41

PC.DEL/144/12 
1 March 2012 
   
ENGLISH only

Permanent Delegation of Norway to the OSCE
STATEMENT ON BELARUS
As delivered by Ambassador Robert Kvile 
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
1 March, 2012

Mr. Chairman,

We share the concerns expressed by the US delegation about violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms and rule of law in Belarus. In this regard, Mr. Chairman, I would like to draw your attention to a statement issued yesterday by the Foreign Minister of Norway, Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, in which he says, and I quote:

“Norway deeply deplores the latest developments in Belarus in which the EU and Polish ambassadors have been asked to leave the country. It is difficult to see how this will benefit the country.

Belarus is isolating itself from Europe and the rest of the world and this can only damage its own political and economic development. Belarus can only achieve economic development that benefits its population if the authorities ensure full respect for human rights. The authorities must also make sure that the parliamentary elections to be held in autumn 2012 are conducted in accordance with democratic principles.”

Norway will maintain its commitment to the development of democracy in Belarus as well as its increased support for human rights efforts in the country.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

http://www.osce.org/pc/88753

News of Belarus

Belarus: the first criminal trial for December 19th case

Submitted by admin on Sat, 02/19/2011 - 16:20

Yesterday, on February 17th, in Minsk the first criminal trial on the case of participation in the riots at the Independence Square on December 19th took place. According to paragraph 2 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code, the penalty for this deed can range from three to eight years of imprisonment. The trial of the accused Vasily Parfenkov passed in a record quick time – within one day the court considered the evidence, listened to the arguments of the prosecution and defense and awarded a sentence (four years in penal colony).

A press conference following the analytical review on rights of detained and prosecuted after the events on December 19th

Submitted by admin on Tue, 02/08/2011 - 22:02

On February 9 at 14.00 Human Rights Center Viasna is holding a press conference following the analytical review on rights of detained and prosecuted after the events on December 19th

At the press-conference the following people will be speaking:

"KGB arrested the reporter of Radio "Ratsiya". The journalist had been released, all the tapes on the recorder were erased"

Submitted by admin on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 13:51

On January 24th at 11:30 AM journalist Gennady Barbarich was detained at the club named after Dzerzhinsky.

Reporter of Radio “Ratsyja” Gennady Barbarich interviewed the wives of prisoners. KGB officers approached him, they asked him the documents and the reasons for his being there. After that, he was taken with officers.