Full letter of concern sent to authorities of the Republic of Belarus on the right.
The recent liberation of Andrei Sannikov, presidential candidate at the December 2010 elections, and Dmitry Bondarenko, his deputy and one of the coordinators of the civil campaign “European Belarus”, has to be followed without delay by the release and full rehabilitation of all the remaining political prisoners in the country, including Ales Bialiatski, Head of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna” in Belarus, Vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and one of the founders of the Belarusian Human Rights House in exile.
The detention of Ales Bialiatski since August 2011 illustrates a consistent pattern of restrictions to the rights to freedom of association and expression imposed in Belarus. Like many NGOs in Belarus, “Viasna” was repeatedly denied registration, a refusal that forced Ales Bialiastki to develop his human rights activities underground. This refusal was qualified as unfounded by the United Nations Human Rights Committee, and is also in open violation of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, and of the recent United Nations declaration on human rights, democracy and rule of law.
Partner and member NGOs of the Human Rights House Network therefore call upon the authorities of the Republic of Belarus:
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To immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, including Ales Bialiatski;
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To expunge convictions of political prisoners and to reinstate them in their rights;
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To ensure adequate compensation for the harm suffered by political prisoners and their families.
Full letter of concern sent to authorities of the Republic of Belarus on the right.
Documents:
- HRHN letter of concern on political prisoners (April 2012)
- UN and international NGOs call for release of political prisoners
- Belarus frees jailed opposition leader
- Arbitrary detention still used as a tool to repress critical voices
- Call for immediate release and rehabilitation of Ales Bialiatski, in January 2012
- Call for immediate release and rehabilitation of Ales Bialiatski, in November 2011
- Joint NGO call to release Ales Bialiatski, in August 2011
- Call for immediate and unconditional release of Ales Bialiatski, in August 2011
Related articles:
Previous HRHN letters of concern on political prisoners in Belarus:
