HFHR condems Belarusian authorities for its brutal pacification of the demonstration organized on 19 December 2010 and the numerous arrests of representatives of the opposition, NGOs, social activists as well as ordinary citizens. The Foundation is indignant at the unlawful searches held in the premises of the human rights centre „Viasna” and other organizations as well as houses of opposotion activists.
In its statement, HFHR further states that Belarus remains a non-democratic country that has not established the rule of law. Such an opinion is based on the follwing acts: pacification of the opposition conducted by the Belarusian authorities, abuse of law, blocking access to internet and independent media, arresting people who were protesting against the falsification of the elections and arresting many other people on the day of the elections and the preceding night. The presidential elections of 19 December 2010 were not free and lawful.
HFHR appeals to the Belarusian authorities for a prompt explanation of all cases of groundless, unproportionate use of power and force by the officials. The Foundation also calls for information to be made publicly available about all persons that were arrested, including the candidates in the elections, and for the reasons and actual place of their detention to be stated as well. Moreover, the Foundation demands that all unlawfully arrested persons will be let free.
HFHR also calls upon international organizations to turn their attention to the situation in Belarus and emphasizes the need to appeal to Belarusian authorities to follow human rights protection standards and to free all persons illegally arrested and detained.
The statement of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights is available here.
