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Belarus: New legislative amendments unduly restrict fundamental rights
Three United Nations independent experts warned that the new legislative amendments recently adopted by the National Assembly of Belarus may severely and arbitrarily restrict the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and expression, and breach international law, and called Ales Bialiatski to be released.
Human rights defenders are not heard in Belarus
The Belarusian side has sent a response to a joint letter drafted by nine international human rights organizations, in which human rights defenders expressed concern regarding amendments to the legislation as well as their consequences and urged the Council not to adopt the changes. However, the official Minsk did not pay attention to the letter, and the amendments were adopted.
Human rights defenders and lawyers: cooperation and mutual support
On November 5-7 Vilnius hosted the international conference “Human rights defence by legal assistance. The best practice of European countries. ” Lawyers and human rights defenders from Belarus, Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan discussed issues related to the activities of lawyers in those countries and tried to find possible solutions.
Bialiatski persecuted for speaking out on behalf of others
The trial against Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski on allegations of large scale concealment of income is part of a broader campaign to silence human rights defenders, says the joint statement of Article 19, Index on Censorship and English PEN.
Belarus review on torture at the United Nations
On 11 and 14 November the United Nations Committee against Torture has considered Belarus on the implementation of the Convention against torture and other cruel and inhuman treatment.
The trial of Ales Bialiatski continues in Belarus
A trial of Ales Bialiatski is under way in Belarus. Bialiatski is accused of tax evasion on a large scale. Social activists, politicians and diplomats are attending the process.
Belarus closes borders before the trial (updated)
Representatives from human rights organisations, including Civil Rights Defenders, Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Human Rights House Foundation and International
Partnership for Human Rights, have been denied visa for travel to Belarus and cannot attend the trial of Ales Bialiatski, leader of the human rights organisation
Viasna. This clearly shows that the trial is politically motivated.
Review of Belarus at Committee
The United Nations Committee against Torture will review the Republic of Belarus on 11 November and 14 November 2011.
Campaign success: Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas stop working for Lukashenko
BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank halt cooperation with Belarus after German Chancellor Angela Merkel tells Index on Censorship and Free Belarus Now that she would intervene to stop Deutsche Bank from selling government bonds to Europe’s last dictatorship. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) decided in August not to sale any of Belarusian government bonds.