Amnesty International Notes Regress In Human Rights Situation In Belarus

The international human rights organization has prepared a special briefing on Belarus at the UN.

The international human rights organization Amnesty International has prepared a special briefing on Belarus as part of the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review, Belsat reports.

In the document, Amnesty International specifically reiterates its longstanding concern about the continued use of the death penalty and calls for an immediate moratorium and an end to inhumane treatment of families of the convicted and executed persons.

It also highlights other long-standing concerns about Belarus’s consistent failure to abide by its obligations under international human rights law, including with regards to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, juvenile justice and fair trials, and discrimination, amongst other human rights.

Amnesty International notes that changes to the Law on Mass Media entered into force in December 2018, considerably tightening state control over online media. Both registered and unregistered online media outlets are now obliged to record the names of people who submit comments, such as those under articles or in online forums (thus infringing on people’s right to anonymity), and to disclose the relevant information to the authorities on request. The owners of registered online media outlets are now legally responsible for the content of the comments. The organization also highlights “imposing heavy fines on freelance journalists cooperating with international media outlets”.

Amnesty International notes that the situation with the freedom of assembly in Belarus has significantly deteriorated during the last five years. Changes to the Law on Mass Events entered into force in January 2019 and established new procedures and fees for organisers who are obliged to pay for policing, medical and clear-up costs of any public event. This serves as a direct obstacle to organisations and individuals who cannot afford such expenditure for exercising their right to peaceful assembly.

The document emphasizes that Belarus continues to harass opposition activists and politicians, and the procedure for registering public associations is maximally complicated.

The welcome repeal of Article 193.1 of the Belarusian Criminal Code, which criminalised participation in the activities of an unregistered organisation, was tainted by the regress in other areas,” they say in Amnesty International.

So, for activities on behalf of an unregistered organization, a fine of $ 615 is now provided.

The organization called on the Belarusian authorities to fully respect universally recognized human rights, especially the right to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, as well as to stop repressions against government critics and dissenters.