To:    

Mr.  Alexander  Lukashenko    
President  of  the  Republic  of  Belarus  
Fax:  (375  17)  226  06  10    

March  25,  2010  

Civil  Rights  Defenders  (Sweden),  Belarusian  Human  Rights  House (Lithuania),  Human  Rights  House  Foundation  (Norway)  and  the Norwegian  Helsinki Committee  condemn  the  detention  of  the activists  of  the  Human  Rights  Center ‘Viasna’  Ales  Bialiatski, Valiantsin  Stefanovich  and  Iryna  Toustsik,  as  yet  another  case  in which  the  right  to  peaceful  assembly  and freedom  of  speech are severely  restricted  by  Belarusian authorities.        

The  three  activists  from  the  Human  Rights  Center  ‘Viasna’  were arrested  on 23 March  2010  in  Minsk  for  holding  a  peaceful protest  against  death  penalty  and the  execution  of  two  recent death  sentences.  On  24  March  2010  the  arrested protesters  were convicted  by  a  court  of  violation  of  the  Civil  Code  and  fined.  

The  two  death  sentences  were  pronounced  in  the  mid  of negotiations  that  the government  of  the  Republic  of  Belarus  is having  with  the  Council  of  Europe, in  order  to  declare  a moratorium  on  the  death  penalty.  

The  freedom  of  assembly  and  expression  are  fundamental rights  and  freedoms guaranteed  by  the  Constitution  of  the Republic  of Belarus  and  by  the International  Covenant  on  Civil and Political Rights  (ICCPR),  ratified  by  the Republic  of  Belarus  on  12 November  1973.  Article  21  of  the  ICCPR  states; “the  right  of peaceful  assembly  shall  be  recognized.  No  restrictions  may  be placed  on  the  exercise  of  this  right  other  than  those  imposed  in conformity with  the  law  and  which  are  necessary  in  a democratic society  in  the  interests of  national  security  or  public safety, public  order  (ordre  public),  the  protection of  public  health or morals  or  the  protection  of  the  rights  and  freedoms  of others.”      

Although  freedom  of  assembly  is  provided  for  under  Belarusian law,  the authorities  have  in  a  number  of  cases  decided  not  to give  permission  to  hold peaceful  assemblies.  This  practice  is  not in  line  with  Article  21  of  the  ICCPR and  is  therefore  a  violation of  the  freedom  of  assembly.  

We  urge  the  authorities  of  the  Republic  of  Belarus  to  protect and promote  the rights  and  freedoms  of  citizens  enshrined  in the national  legislation  and  the international  treaties  to  which the country  is  a  party.    

We  call  upon  the  Belarusian  authorities  to  put  an  end  to  the harassment  against  all  human  rights  defenders,  including  at  the judicial  level.  

 

Sincerely,  

Civil  Rights  Defenders    

Norwegian  Helsinki  Committee    

Human  Rights  House  Foundation  

Belarusian  Human  Rights  House  in  exile  in  Vilnius

Copy  to:    

Mr.  Viktor  Golovanov    
Minister  of  Justice  of  the  Republic  of  Belarus  
Tel./fax:  (375  17)  2009755  

Mr.  Grigory  VASILEVICH    
Prosecutor  General  of  the  Republic  of  Belarus  
Fax:  +375  17  226-­‐42-­‐52    
E-­‐mail:  info@prokuratura.gov.by    

Mr.  Valentin  Sukalo  
Chairman  Supreme  Court  of  the  Republic  of  Belarus  
Tel./fax:  (375  17)  227  12  25  
E-­‐mail:  scjustrb@pmrb.gov.by

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