Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community
April 22, 2024
In connection with information about charges, detention, and imprisonment in a penal colony under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (“group actions grossly violating public order”) against Aliaksandra Mikhailenka, Vital Charkasau, Uladzislau Barysau, Artsiom Zavada, Artsiom Kadyrau, Eduard Apanovich, Aliaksei Leskavets, Alena Stakheika, Volha Tadro, Dzmitry Abramovich, Aleh Artsiukh, Aleh Siarheyeu, Dzmitry Khuta, Viachaslau Shkutsko, Artsiom Nasanovich, Pavel Martsinovich, we note the following:
Freedom of peaceful assembly is guaranteed by Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This freedom is not subject to any restrictions other than those established by law and necessary in democratic countries for the purposes of national and public security, public order, public health, and morals, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
Protests by citizens were spontaneous, self-organized and were caused by distrust of the results of the August 9, 2020, presidential election, which was held with numerous violations and falsifications and was not recognized by the international community as democratic, fair, and free.
Citizens assembled peacefully and posed no threat to national or public security. However, the demonstrators were attacked by special units of the Interior Ministry with disproportionate use of physical force, special equipment, and weapons.
For the first time in the history of Belarus, rubber bullets and water cannons were used against peaceful demonstrators. A considerable amount of damage was inflicted by the use of stun grenades.
In our statement of August 10, 2020, the Belarusian human rights community condemned the actions of law enforcement agencies and placed all responsibility for what happened on August 9 and 10 on the authorities of Belarus.
Further protest actions were peaceful; meetings and their participants had to be protected by law.
We assess the persecution of the above-mentioned persons who were imprisoned and accused of group actions grossly violating public order as politically motivated persecution in connection with their exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression of their opinion regarding the announced results of the presidential elections and recognize them as political prisoners.
In this regard, we demand that the Belarusian authorities:
- Immediately release Aliaksandra Mikhailenka, Vital Charkasau, Uladzislau Barysau, Artsiom Zavada, Artsiom Kadyrau, Eduard Apanovich, Aliaksei Leskavets, Alena Stakheika, Volha Tadro, Dzmitry Abramovich, Aleh Artsiukh, Aleh Siarheyeu, Dzmitry Khuta, Viachaslau Shkutsko, Artsiom Nasanovich, Pavel Martsinovich and stop their criminal prosecution.
- Immediately release all political prisoners, and other individuals detained in connection with their exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly in the post-election period, and stop political repression in the country.
Human Rights Center Viasna;
Human Constanta;
Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House;
Lawtrend;
Legal initiative;
Belarusian Helsinki Committee;
PEN Belarus.