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Republic of Belarus celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by mass detentions of participants in peaceful protest actions

The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Center “Viasna” are urging the Government of the Republic of Belarus to adhere to its international human rights obligations.

On 8-9 December, political prisoner Aliaksandr Barazenka stood trial in Minsk. The last participant of the Process of Fourteen was found guilty and sentenced to one year of restricted freedom.

Is freedom of expression possible in a controlled society? What can be done when official media are all about propaganda, not information? And where alternative sources can be found? Media activists met on 4 December in Belarusian Human Rights House in Vilnius to look for answers together.

The practice to silence discussion on inconvenient topics was challenged during a short film festival on 28-30 November 2008 in Vilnius.

Session #5 of Vilnis Media Seminar will be centered on two recent election campaigns in Belarus and Lithuania.

In spite of official Minsk’s statements considering further “liberalization steps” and readiness to re-involve some independent newspapers in the state-owned distribution system, the prosecution of non-governmental media in the Republic of Belarus continues.

Belarusian human rights defenders are detecting numerous cases of persecution by the local authorities against civic activists and candidates at the elections of 28 September. In spite of the expected political thaw, traditional repression against the opponents of the regime are under way.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Human Rights House in Vilnius is conducting a competition for the best photograph illustrating a human right or freedom in Belarus.