United States Mission to the OSCE Statement on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus March 1, 2012

Submitted by admin on Sat, 03/10/2012 - 09:25

As delivered by Ambassador Ian Kelly
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
March 1, 2012

The United States remains deeply concerned about serious violations of human rights, fundamental freedoms and rule of law in Belarus.

We are extremely disappointed with the politically-motivated conviction of Syarhei Kavelenka on February 24 to more than two years of imprisonment for alleged violation of parole. Kavelenka was arrested on December 19, 2011 – on the anniversary of the flawed presidential election. We are deeply concerned about his physical condition, as well as the health of all political prisoners in Belarus.

We note with concern the administrative detention of ten days each for opposition activists Pavel Vinahradau and Alyaksandr Artsybashau for alleged involvement in an unsanctioned protest.

We call on Belarus to release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, to ensure their full rehabilitation and to stop the ongoing harassment of political activists, civil society representatives, and independent journalists.

Finally, we note with deep regret the Government of Belarus’s decision to request that the European Union Head of Delegation and Polish Ambassador to Belarus return to their capitals for consultations, while simultaneously recalling its Permanent Representative in Brussels and Ambassador in Warsaw. These actions, like the expulsion of the U.S. Ambassador to Belarus in 2008 and the closure of the OSCE Office in Minsk in March 2011, only deepen Belarus’s self-isolation. The United States joins the EU and its member states in calling on Belarus to end its repression of civil society and the democratic opposition.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

http://osce.usmission.gov/mar_1_12_belarus.html

News of Belarus

HRHF and Belarusian HRH's written statement on Belarus submitted to the Human Rights Council

Submitted by admin on Sat, 03/10/2012 - 09:13

Human Rights Council
Nineteenth session
Agenda item 4
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention

Written statement* submitted by the Human Rights House Foundation, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status

The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is circulated in
accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.

Continued human rights violations in the Republic of Belarus**

Journalist Andrei Myaleshka “invited” to KGB

Submitted by admin on Thu, 03/08/2012 - 20:20

Andrei Myaleshka, a member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), waits to receive a summons to the KGB.

Journalist from Hrodna Anrei Myaleshka says he was invited on the phone to “talk”. He answered he would come only after receiving a summons.

Andrei Myaleshka writes articles mainly on culture for budzma.org.


http://spring96.org/en/news/50282

EU issues statement on death sentences in Belarus - only country in Europe still applying capital punishment

Submitted by admin on Thu, 03/08/2012 - 19:45

he EU has issued a statement saying it is “deeply concerned” that two men facing the death sentence in Belarus do not appear to have had a right to judicial appeal. Dzmitry Kanavalaw and Uladzislaw Kavalyow were sentenced to death by the Supreme Court in Belarus on 30 November 2011.

In a statement at the OSCE, the EU said it was deeply worried about reports from independent human rights organisations about possible irregularities relating to the trial of the two men.