Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Belarus

Submitted by admin on Fri, 05/11/2012 - 06:57

Human Rights Council
Twentieth session
Agenda items 2 and 4
Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the 
High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention

The present report is submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 17/24, in which the Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to monitor the human rights situation in Belarus and to present to the Council, in an interactive dialogue at its twentieth session, a comprehensive report on the human rights situation in Belarus following the presidential election of 19 December 2010. The report covers the period from 19 December 2010 to  23  March 2012. The High Commissioner presented an oral report on the situation to the Council at its eighteenth session.

The situation of human rights has significantly deteriorated in Belarus following the presidential election. The Government‟s  response to  a mostly peaceful demonstration in Minsk, contesting the electoral process, was followed by a massive crackdown on political opponents, human rights groups and  independent media. Overall, more than  600  people were arrested and detained on or shortly after election day; 43 opposition leaders, activists and independent journalists  were sentenced,  including  five  out of  nine  opposition candidates.

Read full text of report

Original sourse http://ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session20/A...

News of Belarus

Tough sentences announced to Brest antifascists

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/05/2015 - 21:00

A verdict was delivered today in the case of Brest antifascists acused of participation in a group fight with neonazis which happened on May 8, 2013.

Antifascists were tried under the art. 339.3 (malicious group hooliganism) and 147.2 (malicious bodily harm). The case was qualified as malicious due to the fact of pepper spray usage in the fight.

Dzmitry Stsyashenka got 5 years of penal colony with reinforced regime (339.3) and 500 euro of damages to be paid to the injured nazis.

Exclusive: European Union moves to suspend sanctions on Belarus

Submitted by admin on Wed, 09/16/2015 - 21:00

The European Union is likely to lift some sanctions on Belarus, including its travel ban on President Alexander Lukashenko, after he freed a group of political prisoners last month, diplomatic sources say.

An arms embargo against the former Soviet republic would remain. But in an overture to the man the West calls Europe's "last dictator", diplomats are looking at suspending visa bans and asset freezes on most of around 200 people under sanctions for rights abuses, some since disputed elections in 2004.