Human Rights Situation in Belarus: February 2021
Summary: in February, the authorities continued to apply criminal prosecution for political reasons. Viasna is aware of at least 102 sentences handed down during the month, with 49 convicts sentenced to terms of imprisonment; there are 258 political prisoners in places of detention, as their number continues to increase. The total number of criminal cases […]
New law on political parties introduces stricter regulation on party financing
On January 18, 2021, amendments to Armenia’s Law on Political Parties were finally signed by President Armen Sarkissian. The bill makes changes to the way political parties will be regulated and incorporates recommendations by OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. This report follows up on EPDE’s A Long Process Though part […]
Russia election alert #8 – Duma elections 2021
Voter during Russia’s Single Voting Day 2020. Source: ft.com / © AP Russia’s next State Duma elections are scheduled to be held in September. A number of recent developments offer a glimpse of how they may be conducted. The prosecution of Alexei Navalny upon his return to Russia in January as well as the […]
Call for experts on elections in Russia
The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) seeks international experts to contribute to its publication series concerning elections and election related topics in the Russian Federation. The task of the expert includes to conduct research and provide expertise on election related topics in the Russian Federation with special focus on findings and conclusions of domestic […]
EPDE condemns repressions against independent election observers in Belarus and Russia
Citizen election observers in Belarus and Russia are currently facing increasing repressions by the governments in Minsk and Moscow. In the aftermath of the presidential elections in Belarus, on 16 February 2021 numerous human rights defenders, journalists and citizen election observers have been detained, their properties have been searched, and technical equipment was seized. In […]
Viasna statement on the unprecedented attack on Belarusian human rights defenders
On February 16, a wave of searches of human rights defenders took place throughout Belarus. The searches were carried out at the office of the Public Association “Belarusian Association of Journalists”, at the apartments of chairman of the organization Andrei Bastunets, vice-chairmen – Barys Haretski and Aleh Aheyeu, as well as a lawyer – Kristina […]
Journalists and human rights defenders under attack
Apartment of freelance journalist in Gomel after being raided. Image source: Viasna At least 25 human rights defenders, mostly working with the Belarusian Association of Journalists and the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, have been either detained or targeted in police raids this morning (16.02.). Several offices were searched, both in Minsk and across Belarus, […]
Hands off Marfa, hands off Viasna, hands off human rights defenders!
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 […]
All-Ukrainian Referendum: What is it, What for, and How is it organized
January, 26, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed, in the second reading and in whole, the draft law “On Popular Rule Through the All-Ukrainian Referendum” (No 3612). The new law is aimed at implementing direct popular rule and address national issues. The law has already “grown” rumours and is surrounded by disinformation. That is why this […]
Final Report on the 2020 Presidential Elections
Concerning last year’s presidential election in Moldova, Promo-LEX Association concludes that election contenders avoided reporting all campaign expenditures, there was a record number of hate speech, use of administrative resources, bribing of voters, and a high rate of complaints not accepted by the CEC and courts. In some instances, observers were restricted from accessing voter […]
