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A number of human rights organizations prepared and sent a letter of concern on inadmissibility of death penalty to international institutions by reason of the trials of Uladzislau Kavaliou and Dzmitry Kanavalau, accused of organizing terrorist attacks in Belarus. Belarusian HRH joined the statement.

Concerns about the continuously deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus were raised by the Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) at the most recent UN Human Rights Council session. In its oral statement, HRHF highlighted the escalating repression against human rights defenders and their organisations, lawyers, journalists and political activists.

Released on 14 September, political prisoners have told about the conditions of their imprisonment, threats and pressure from the side of administration. Meanwhile, a number of Belarusian intellectuals expressed their concern regarding the conditions of detention of political prisoner, Zmitser Dashkevich.

A series of special events designed by FIDH is taking place now. These activities aim to achieve the release of political prisoners, among whom is now vice president of FIDH, the head of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski. 11 more political prisoners were released on 14 September. The Human Rights House Foundation has prepared a special statement to the UN Human Rights Council

On 29 August, Aliaksandr Lukashenka spoke of the need of negotiations between representatives of the European Union, Russia and the Belarusian opposition of “whatever political camp they belong to.” In response to these words of the President the HR Centre “Viasna” released a declaration stating that the main condition for negotiations is the release of political prisoners.

Belarus can still hear the echoes of Minsk “mass riots” case which happened after the presidential elections on 19 December 2010. The political prisoners are beginning to be released in small groups, but the lawyers who worked with the accused ones continue to be disbarred.

The authorities banned the pickets in defence of arrested human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, that were supposed to be held on 22 of August in 18 Belarusian cities. Nevertheless, on 23 August, the solidairty actions took place in several Belarusian towns but ended up with detentions.

On 12 August Ales Bialiatski was charged under Part 2 of Art. 243 of the Criminal Code (concealment of income on a large scale). The term of Ales Bialiatski’s custody was extended for another two month. Human rights defenders consider it as a prosecution for civic activities and continue to collect personal guarantees for Bialiatski.

9 international NGOs sent a joint letter to Belarusian Prosecutor General of the City of Minsk to urge that Ales Bialiatski be released from custody on his own recognizance pending the investigation against him.