Belarus: PACE Political Affairs Committee condemns the prosecution of political opponents

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 14:12

"Given the ongoing harassment and political trials of civil society and political opponents, and continuing the restrictions of freedom of speech and association, the human rights situation in Belarus is deteriorating and remains a matter of serious concern," today said Sinikka Hurskainen (Finland, SOC), outgoing PACE's rapporteur on Belarus.

At the meeting of the PACE Political Affairs Committee, Mrs Hurskainen presented information about the most recent politically motivated trials and the crackdown on human rights defenders and non-state media in Belarus. "With such harsh prison sentences, threats to shut down independent newspapers and the prosecution of human rights organisations, the Belarusian authorities persistently fail to respect Council of Europe standards of democracy, human rights and the rule of law," she declared.

The Political Affairs Committee strongly condemned the ongoing prosecution of political opponents by the Belarusian authorities and called for the release of all political prisoners. During PACE Summer session (20-24 June 2011), the committee is to hold an exchange of views on the situation in Belarus with representatives of civil society and democratic opposition, paying special attention to the politically motivated trials and the parliamentary elections in 2012 in this country.

The Political Affairs Committee, taking into account "the present deplorable situation" of non-registered organisations in Belarus, decided to request the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) to provide an assessment of the compatibility with universal human rights standards of Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code vis-à-vis the rights of non-registered associations in Belarus.

Source: http://assembly.coe.int/ASP/NewsManager/EMB_NewsManagerView.asp?ID=6705&L=2

Original document: http://assembly.coe.int/CommitteeDocs/2011/Apdoc18.pdf

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News of Belarus

Tough sentences announced to Brest antifascists

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/05/2015 - 21:00

A verdict was delivered today in the case of Brest antifascists acused of participation in a group fight with neonazis which happened on May 8, 2013.

Antifascists were tried under the art. 339.3 (malicious group hooliganism) and 147.2 (malicious bodily harm). The case was qualified as malicious due to the fact of pepper spray usage in the fight.

Dzmitry Stsyashenka got 5 years of penal colony with reinforced regime (339.3) and 500 euro of damages to be paid to the injured nazis.

Exclusive: European Union moves to suspend sanctions on Belarus

Submitted by admin on Wed, 09/16/2015 - 21:00

The European Union is likely to lift some sanctions on Belarus, including its travel ban on President Alexander Lukashenko, after he freed a group of political prisoners last month, diplomatic sources say.

An arms embargo against the former Soviet republic would remain. But in an overture to the man the West calls Europe's "last dictator", diplomats are looking at suspending visa bans and asset freezes on most of around 200 people under sanctions for rights abuses, some since disputed elections in 2004.