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In September 2020, the prominent Belarusian opposition figure Maryia Kalesnikava was abducted from Minsk and taken to the border where security forces tried to expel her from the country; she ripped up her passport in defiance. In the days that followed she was charged with incitement to undermine national security and placed in pre-trial detention. The letter that follows was written by Maryia Kalesnikava to her father on 16 July 2021, the day the Supreme Court rejected her complaint regarding the extension of her detention until 1 August.

Today, Human Rights House Foundation marks the anniversary of the latest illegitimate presidential election in Belarus. The 2020 Presidential election, however, represents a turning point in the country’s recent history as Belarusian citizens united like never before in protesting the violation of their electoral rights. The protests led to an unprecedented brutal response from the authorities which continues unabated. 

Human Rights House Foundation joins 160+ human rights organisations in demanding an end to the repression against the Human Rights Center Viasna and all other human rights defenders in Belarus.

On 8 July 2021, Human Rights House Foundation joined six other civil society organisations in an exchange of views with the Council of Europe’s (CoE’s) Committee of Ministers’ group of rapporteurs on legal co-operation on the protection and promotion of the work of lawyers.

Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) strongly condemns today’s actions by the Belarusian authorities against independent civil society and human rights defenders.

Human Rights House Foundation joins 16 other organisations to share reflections on the key outcomes of the 47th session of the UN Human Rights Council, as well as the missed opportunities to address key issues and situations.

On 13 July 2021, the UN Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, following calls by Belarusian and international human rights organisations. Human Rights House Foundation welcomes this action, which provides for on-going scrutiny of Belarus’s human rights situation and an accessible and safe channel for Belarusian civil society to deliver diverse and up-to-date information from within the country.

Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) welcomes the adoption of a new United Nations resolution focused on civil society space, including with its requirement for the High Commissioner to report on specific challenges that civil society faces during times of crisis.

On 8 July 2021, Human Rights House Foundation delivered a statement to the UN Human Rights Council on on human rights in Georgia and violence against Tbilisi Pride.