Human rights: situation in Egypt and death penalty in Belarus and Japan

Submitted by admin on Thu, 03/08/2012 - 19:40

The use of death penalty in Belarus is condemned in another resolution highlighting the death sentences handed down to Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavalyou by the Supreme Court on 30 November 2011. It urges Alyaksandr Lukashenka to pardon both men and to impose a moratorium on all death sentences and executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty from the penal system. The two men were sentenced for allegedly committing terrorist attacks in 2005, 2008 and 2011 in Vitebsk and Minsk, but according to reports by human rights organisations (FIDH, Human Rights Watch), there are arguments showing that the trial was unfair and that the investigation was marred by serious human rights abuses.The executions of the two may be carried out very soon.

Underlining that this "irreversible, cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment, which violates the right to life", is unacceptable, MEPs deplore the continuing failure of the Belarusian authorities to take any tangible steps towards abolishing the death penalty or imposing an immediate moratorium on it. They reiterate that the European Union and other international institutions have repeatedly urged the Belarusian authorities to abolish the death penalty.

Finally, they condemn the continuous persecution of human rights defenders and members of the democratic opposition and the harassment of civil society activists and the independent media in Belarus for political reasons and demand the unconditional immediate release of all political prisoners.

Belarus remains the only country in Europe that imposes the death penalty and still carries out executions.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20120216IPR38357...

News of Belarus

Belarus: PACE Political Affairs Committee condemns the prosecution of political opponents

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 14:12

"Given the ongoing harassment and political trials of civil society and political opponents, and continuing the restrictions of freedom of speech and association, the human rights situation in Belarus is deteriorating and remains a matter of serious concern," today said Sinikka Hurskainen (Finland, SOC), outgoing PACE's rapporteur on Belarus.

Human Rights Defenders in Belarus are severely persecuted: Statement of Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 17:58

In Belarus, the crackdown on opposition politicians, civil society groups, human rights defenders and media continues. While no less than seven hundred demonstrators were arrested in the evening after the elections of 19 December, several of them have now been brought to court, have faced unsubstantiated charges and received extreme sentences.

Human rights activists from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus are detained in Minsk. Two Russians Must Leave Belarus in 24 Hours

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/04/2011 - 21:03

4 May 2011--Today at approximately 18.30pm [Minsk], officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus have thwarted the presentation of the an independent report prepared by an independent expert group led by Mr Neil Jarman, the Special Rapporteur of the Committee on International Control over the Human Rights Situation in Belarus. The objectives of the report were limited to an impartial assessment of the events which took place on 19 December 2010, including civic protests on Independence Square, ensuing arrests and detentions, without analysis of the implementation and results of the Presidential elections.