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Belarus: One-year anniversary of unjust verdicts against Viasna members
One year ago, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, FIDH Vice-President Valiantsin Stefanovic and Viasna lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich were sentenced to ten, nine and seven years of imprisonment on fabricated charges, respectively. Several organisations, including HRHF, and led by The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT) demand their immediate and unconditional release, and call on the international community to use all available diplomatic, political and other means at its disposal to urge the Belarusian authorities to respect the rule of law and to free all those convicted under politically motivated charges.
Leanid Sudalenka: “Who will be responsible for the death of Ales Pushkin? What will we do if one morning we find out that Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski has passed away [in prison]?”
On 21 July 2023, prominent human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka was released following two and a half years behind bars in Belarus. In this interview with Human Rights House Foundation, marking six months since his release, Sudalenka shares his experiences from unjust imprisonment to forced exile and discusses the dependence of Lukashenka’s regime on continuous repressions against Belarusian civil society.
Azerbaijan: Release Gubad Ibadoghlu, renowned academic and activist
Human Rights House Foundation joins OMCT and Human Rights Watch in expressing deep concerned about the arrest, detention, and harsh conditions of custody faced by civic activist and academic Gubad Ibadoghlu in Azerbaijan.
Belarus: Leanid Sudalenka released
Human Rights House Foundation welcomes the news that Leanid Sudalenka, our colleague from Viasna Human Rights Centre, was released today after spending two and a half years behind bars. The case against him was unjust and he should not have been imprisoned in the first place. We repeat our call for the release of his Viasna colleagues and all political prisoners in Belarus.
Advocating for human rights in Belarus, Ukraine & more – our work at HRC53
At the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) continued to underline the alarming human rights trends prevailing in Eastern Europe. Alongside members of the Network of Human Rights Houses and other partners, HRHF once again urged the Council to adopt decisive measures in response to the pressing regional crisis, including on the issues of freedom of expression, assembly, and association, as well as pressure facing judges and lawyers.
“Most of all, I miss Ales’ optimism” – Natalia Pinchuk
14 July 2023 marks two years since human rights defender Ales Bialiatski was detained in Belarus alongside his Viasna colleagues Valiantsin Stefanovich and Uladzimir Labkovich. HRHF spoke to Bialiatski’s wife Natalia Pinchuk ahead of the day.
HRC53: Human rights in Crimea & newly occupied territories of Ukraine
On 12 July 2023, Human Rights House Foundation delivered a statement at the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council highlighting the situation for over 140 political prisoners in Crimea as well as human rights in the newly occupied territories of Ukraine.
“The most important thing for a political prisoner is to know they are remembered.”
In June 2023, Human Rights House Foundation spoke to prominent human rights lawyer and former political prisoner Intigam Aliyev. We discussed human rights, his experience as a political prisoner, and the situation for his imprisoned colleagues in Belarus.
HRC53: HRHF strongly urges the Council to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Belarus
On 5 July 2023, Human Rights House Foundation delivered a statement at the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, urging the Council to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus. HRHF also called for the release of jailed human rights defenders Nasta Loika, Andrei Aliaksandrau & all 1500+ political prisoners in the country.