Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community
August 29, 2024
In connection with the information about the indictment and detention of Alaksandr Tarasievič, Natalla Burakoŭskaja, Aleŭtyna Hudkova, Dźmitry Mirski, and Dźmitry Błaščanica under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (group actions that grossly violate public order), as well as the detention of Dźmitry Famin under Part 1 of Article 342 and Article 368 of the Criminal Code (for insulting A. Lukashenka), 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 subject to no restrictions other than those prescribed by law and necessary in democratic countries for the purposes of national security, public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
The protests of the citizens were spontaneous and self-organized. They were caused by the distrust in the results of the 2020 presidential election in the Republic of Belarus on August 9, 2020. The election was held with numerous violations and falsifications and was not recognized by the international community as democratic, fair or free.
The rallies were peaceful and posed no threat to national or public security. Despite this, the demonstrators were attacked by special police units with disproportionate use of physical force, special means and weapons.
For the first time in the history of Belarus, rubber bullets and water cannons were used against peaceful demonstrators. A particularly high number of injuries was caused by the use of stun grenades.
In its statement of August 10, 2020, the Belarusian human rights community condemned the actions of law enforcement agencies and placed full responsibility for the events of August 9 and 10 on the authorities of the Republic of Belarus.
Further protests were of a peaceful nature, the rallies and their participants should have been protected by law.
We consider the detention of the above-mentioned individuals, who are accused of participating in group actions that grossly violate public order, as politically motivated persecution. This is due to the exercise of their freedom of peaceful assembly and expression of their opinions on the announced results of the presidential election in the Republic of Belarus. Therefore, we declare them to be political prisoners.
In this regard, we demand that the Belarusian authorities:
- Immediately release Alaksandr Tarasievič, Natalla Burakoŭskaja, Aleŭtyna Hudkova, Dźmitry Mirski, Dźmitry Błaščanica, Dźmitry Famin and cease their criminal prosecution.
- Immediately release all political prisoners and individuals detained for exercising their right to peaceful assembly during the post-election period and cease political repression against citizens of the country.
Viasna Human Rights Center;
PEN Belarus;
Belarusian Association of Journalists;
Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House;
Legal Initiative;
Lawtrend.