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Representatives of the Belarusian human rights community published a joint statement, according to which the criminal prosecution of Uladzimir Kondrus (in the photo) is politically motivated, and he is recognised as a political prisoner. The full text of the statement is reproduced below.

Прадстаўнікі беларускай праваабарончай супольнасці апублікавалі супольную заяву аб прызнанні крымінальнага пераследу Уладзіміра Кондруся (на фота) палітычна матываваным і прызнанні яго палітычным зняволеным. Поўны тэкст заявы прыводзім ніжэй.

In early August human rights defenders reported that a man was arrested and held in custody for his alleged participation in the riots after the presidential elections in 2010.

У пачатку жніўня праваабаронцы паведамілі аб затрыманым і змешчаным пад варту мужчыне, якога вінавацяць ва ўдзеле ў масавых беспарадках пасля прэзідэнцкіх выбараў 2010 года.

The Human Rights House Network (HRHN) is deeply concerned about the disproportionate use of force against peaceful protestors in Armenia, in connection with “Erebuni” protests that began on 17 July.

During “Erebuni” mass protests in Yerevan, largely peaceful protests have been met with disproportionate force, detentions, and provocations by law enforcement, leading to violent confrontations between police and protestors. The authorities have failed to meet their obligation to facilitate and support peaceful protests, and in many cases they have undermined efforts to ensure events remained peaceful.

Journalist Pavel Sharamet was killed in a car bomb attack in Kyiv on 20 July 2016. His murder drew public attention to the fact that journalists work in a very difficult situation.

Журналіст Павел Шарамет быў забіты ў выніку выбуху замініраванага аўтамабіля ў Кіеве 20 ліпеня 2016 г. Яго забойства звярнула ўвагу грамадства на тое, у якой складанай сітуацыі працуюць журналісты.

Members of Human Rights House Yerevan report that police have detained up to 80 people in Armenia since the protests began. There are also allegations that police did not provide information on some of these persons’ whereabouts for many hours, did not grant them timely access to legal representation, and have used disproportionate force against protestors. These detentions come amid mass protests in Yerevan, sparked by the armed occupation of a police station in the city’s Erebuni district.

Journalist Pavel Sheremet was killed in a car bomb attack in Kyiv on 20 July 2016. His murder follows recent attacks on journalists and a climate in which journalists and media are discredited and in some cases vilified for their work.

An appeal on behalf of the “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” was sent by one of the campaign coordinators to the Central Election Commission’s chairwoman Lidziya Yarmoshyna on 6 July. This anti-discrimination step is particularly important, because the subjects of the electoral process are actively using the Belarusian language, thinks Valiantsin Stefanovich, the author of the appeal.

Зварот ад імя “Праваабаронцаў за свабодныя выбары” адзін з каардынатараў кампаніі даслаў старшыні ЦВК Лідзіі Ярмошынай 6 ліпеня. Гэты антыдыскрымінацыйны крок асабліва важны, паколькі суб’екты выбарчага працэсу актыўна карыстаюцца беларускай мовай, лічыць аўтар звароту Валянцін Стэфановіч.