Elections*2025. Analytical report on the formation of territorial election commissions
The general conditions and the actual procedure of the formation of territorial election commissions (TECs), which are an important mechanism of the electoral process, demonstrate the state dirigisme of all electoral processes with the imitation of the active participation of civil society, which gives the current executive power full control over the formed commissions. The […]
The situation on the eve of the elections*2025. The first report of the “Human rights defenders for free elections” campaign
The next, seventh, presidential elections* in Belarus have been scheduled by the House of Representatives for January 26, 2025, amid a deep human rights crisis caused by repression following peaceful protests against fraud in the 2020 presidential elections. This repression persists and even intensifies to this day: the authorities continue to arbitrarily persecute candidates, members […]
EPDE calls for the immediate release of Viasna members as they enter fourth year of political imprisonment
On 14 July 2021, our colleagues Ales Bialiatski, founder and chairman of The Human Rights Center Viasna, esteemed human rights activist, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Valiantsin Stefanovic, deputy chairperson of Viasna and vice-president of FIDH, and lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich, were detained due to their roles as election monitors. In March 2023, Ales was sentenced […]
EPDE Stands in Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus
May 21 marks Day of Political Prisoners in Belarus. “The main thing is to save your health” – this year’s theme is the right to health and medical care in detention. According to Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Belarus, as a state that has ratified it, recognizes the […]
All-Belarusian People’s Assembly is a form of (non)implementation of the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs
The “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” campaign, run by EPDE members Belarusian Helsinki Committee and Viasna Human Rights Center, analyzed the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly (ABPA). Initially, the ABPA was a quasi-civic meeting organized by the executive vertical, practiced every 5 years (usually) before presidential elections to demonstrate “nationwide” support for A. Lukashenka. It was […]
Human Rights Center Viasna
Viasna is a non-governmental human rights organization, created in 1996 during mass protest actions of the democratic opposition in Belarus. It contributes to the development of civil society in Belarus, based on respect of human rights according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus. Viasna was initially […]
Belarusian Helsinki Committee – BHC
BHC works to ensure that human rights are included in all spheres of life (including in commercial activities), and that people hold greater power in controlling their own life.It is an autonomous, independent, non-profit, human rights public association established to implement humanitarian activities in Belarus. It operates on the basis of self-governance and unites Belarusian […]
Elections*2024. Preliminary analytical report on the results of monitoring the elections of deputies on a single voting day on February 25, 2024
The expert elections*2024 observation mission was organized by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Viasna Human Rights Center as part of the “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” campaign. The mission collects and analyzes information about the election campaign based on open sources and messages from voters from Belarus. CONCLUSIONS A single voting day was introduced […]
Elections*2024. Preliminary analytical report on the results of monitoring the elections of deputies on a single voting day on February 25, 2024
The expert election* 2024 observation mission was organized by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Viasna Human Rights Center as part of the “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” campaign. The mission collects and analyzes information about the election campaign based on open sources and messages from voters from Belarus.*The term “elections*” in relation to […]
Report on the results of monitoring the election* campaigning
The expert elections*2024 observation mission was organized by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Viasna Human Rights Center as part of the “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” campaign. The mission collects and analyzes information about the election campaign based on open sources and messages from voters from Belarus. CONCLUSIONS – the canvassing stage, as well […]