3157th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting Brussels, 22 and 23 March 2012

Submitted by admin on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 07:42

 Council conclusions on on Belarus
 
3157th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting
Brussels, 22 and 23 March 2012

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"1. Recalling the Council conclusions on 31 January 2011 and 20 June 2011, the Council reiterates its grave concern about the continued lack of respect for human rights, democracy
and rule of law in Belarus, and regrets that further repressive measures have taken place.

2.  As the political prisoners have not been released and rehabilitated, and against the background of the further deterioration of the situation, the Council decided to designate additional persons responsible for serious violations of human rights or the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, to the list of those subject to travel restrictions and assets freezes. The Council also decided to designate further businessmen and companies benefitting from or supporting the regime and will agree further such designations at upcoming Council meetings if all Belarusian political prisoners are not released. The EU´s restrictive measures remain open and under constant review.

Read...

Official sourse: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/...

News of Belarus

Belarus trials highlight need for substantial justice reform, OSCE human rights chief says

Submitted by admin on Thu, 12/15/2011 - 13:46

WARSAW, 10 November 2011 – The trials conducted in the aftermath of the 19 December 2010 presidential election in Belarus highlighted the need for a substantial reform of the country’s justice system, Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said today following the publication of a report on the findings of ODIHR’s trial monitors.

Andrey Yurov about the situation for civil society in Belarus

Submitted by admin on Tue, 12/13/2011 - 18:23

Andrey Yurov, from the Moscow Helsinki Group, International Youth Human Rights Movement and Head of International Observation Mission in Belarus, talks to Adele Poskitt at CIVICUS during the OSCE Civil Society Parallel conference about the situation for civil society in Belarus.

OSCE PA calls for release of Belarusian rights defender

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/29/2011 - 14:37

COPENHAGEN, 25 November 2011 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly leaders today expressed deep disappointment with yesterday's ruling in the case of Ales Bialiatski, leader of the Belarusian human rights organization Viasna.