A special letter prepared by the Human Rights House Foundation and signed by various NGOs and human rights organisations including Civicus and FIDH was sent to the UN Human Rights Council.
The authors of the letter express concern regarding the pressure on journalists, lawyers, human right defenders, civic and political activists. In addition, particular concern is drawn to the fact that the Belarusian authorities continue to ignore their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
FIDH actions to release political prisoners
On 12 September Deputy Chairman of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" Valiantsin Stefanovich met with the Head of the Human Rights Office at the European Parliament Geoffrey Harris in Brussels. The meeting was also attended by the FIDH Head of Bureau for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Sasha Kulayeva.
It was the first of a series of meetings scheduled by FIDH within the framework of activities aimed at the release of political prisoners in Belarus, including Vice President of FIDH, the head of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski.
On 13 September the International Press Centre held a special press conference organized by the leading international human rights organizations: FIDH, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (OBS), the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), Amnesty International and Human Rights Centre "Viasna".
A documentary film about the events on 19 December and immediately after them, was shown during the press conference. The film was created during the FIDH mission to Belarus.
As noted by Valiantsin Stefanovich (left), the purpose of these activities is to draw international attention to the situation in Belarus and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners who are still in Belarusian prisons. According to the human rights defender it is particularly important to inform the EU about what is happening with the prisoners, about that pressure put on them by the prison administration.
11 prisoners are granted pardon
Aliaksandr Lukashenka has granted presidential pardon to 11 more accused of “December 19 case”, says press service of the head of state.
Accordingly, on 14 September following political prisoners were granted a pardon: Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, Dzmitry Bulanau, Illya Vasilevich, Pavel Vinahradau, Aliaksandr Klaskouski, Mikita Likhavid, Uladzimir Loban, Aliaksandr Malchanau, Fiodar Mirzayanau, Dzmitry Novik and Aleh Fedarkevich.
"Guided by the principles of humanity, the president signed a decree to pardon 11 people convicted of involvement in mass riots in Minsk on December 19, 2010," – writes the press service of Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
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On 15 September Valiantsin Stefanovich will also participate in a meeting with European Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammaberg in Strasbourg. It is on 15 September, when the European Parliament is planning to adopt a special resolution on the situation in Belarus.
A briefing on the situation in Belarus, organized with the participation of FIDN Valiantsin Stefanovich will be held on 20 September in Geneva. In addition,Stefanovich is planning to give a speech at the session of the UN Human Rights Council.
On 20 September the Human Rights Council will hold hearing on the situation in Belarus.
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