Statement by the Board of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”

Minsk – February 12, 2021

On February 11, Marfa Rabkova, coordinator of the volunteer service of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

For 25 years, the organization has regularly faced acts of pressure, intimidation and harassment targeting its members for their human rights activities. In 2003, it was deprived of state registration, but continued to be engaged in human rights work.

Over the years, we have been threatened with criminal liability for acting on behalf of an unregistered organization, for discrediting the Republic of Belarus, or accused of “gross violations of applicable laws.” In 2011, Ales Bialiatski, Viasna chairman, was  Website of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” here