No opposition nominees selected for PEC seats
The Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center “Viasna” within their joint campaign “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections“ released an analytical report on the formation of precinct election commissions for the National Referendum scheduled for February 27, 2022. None of the nominated opposition representatives (42 persons) secured a seat on the commissions. SUMMARY […]
Belarus: Discrimination of opposition and NGOs in formation of TECs ahead of constitutional referendum
The process of forming territorial election commissions (TECs) ahead of the constitutional referendum in Belarus has started. Entities eligible to nominate their representatives to the TECs were given an extremely short period of time, only one working day, which could seriously affect the nomination process. The bulk of nominees to the TECs are representatives of […]
Formation of TECs ahead of constitutional referendum
The domestic election observation mission by “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” released its first report on the formation process of territorial election commissions (TECs) ahead of the constitutional referendum in Belarus. SUMMARY territorial election commissions (hereinafter – TECs) are one of the key mechanisms for holding a referendum in accordance with international principles of […]
Belarus: first report on the eve of the National referendum
The Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center “Viasna” within their joint campaign “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” released the first report on the eve of the National referendum sheduled for February 27, 2022.
First report on the eve of referendum
The Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center “Viasna” within their joint campaign “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” released the first observation report on the National Referendum scheduled for February 27, 2022 SUMMARY: the referendum is taking place against the backdrop of a profound socio-political crisis that began immediately after the 2020 presidential […]
Human Rights Situation in Belarus in 2021
SUMMARY – the presidential election of August 2020 and the unprecedented protests that followed determined the long-term political situation in Belarus; – violence, repression, demolition of civil society, creation of an atmosphere of fear have become tools to retain power instead of electoral support; – the country’s legal system has demonstrated its inability to […]
Six months in jail. What is known about three detained Viasna members
On this day six months ago, Ales Bialiatski, chairman of the Human Rights Center Viasna, his deputy Valiantsin Stefanovich and lawyer of the organization Uladzimir Labkovich have been detained. They and other Viasna members were searched by officers of the Financial Investigations Department on July 14. Since that day, three Viasna members have been in custody, and the Minsk offices of […]
Human Rights Situation in Belarus in 2021
Viasna released an analytical review on the human rights situation in Belarus in 2021. Human rights observers state that criminal and administrative persecution, arbitrary arrests, dismissals and expulsions have become the main tools of authorities for retaining power and repressing opponents, critics of the regime, and dissidents.
#FreeViasna – we demand the release of Viasna members on first anniversary of crackdown
On the first anniversary of the unprecedented crackdown on the Human Rights Center Viasna (“Viasna”) in Belarus, 23 international and Belarusian human rights organizations are launching a campaign to demand the release of seven detained Viasna members, and highlight the plight of hundreds of others, who have been prosecuted and jailed solely for exercising their […]
EPDE calls on the international community to support Belarusian Helsinki Committee
Peaceful demonstration in Minsk, 16 August 2020. Source: Yulia Khvoshch / Mostphotos The Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC), a founding member of the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), is another Belarusian human rights organization threatened with a liquidation lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Justice. The lawsuit is part of a broad campaign by […]