The action of solidarity with imprisoned Belarusian human rights activists
On the 17th of September, the Center for Civil Liberties #BelarusWatch joined the international campaign #FreeViasna which demands to release of all detained members of the Belarusian Human Rights Center “Viasna” and to draw attention to the brutal conditions of hundreds of other prisoners of the Lukashenko regime. They were prosecuted and imprisoned for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
Representatives of Ukrainian NGOs and human rights defenders get together in order to honor the dignifying work for human rights in Belarus done by the Belarusian Human Rights Center “Viasna” and to spoke in support of them. They also expressed solidarity with all activists who are victims of political persecution by the Lukashenko regime.
In addition, during the #FreeViasna action, a banner was placed on the pedestrian bridge over the Alley of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, which for a month will remind of the problem of political repression and grave human rights violations faced by many Belarusians today.
Background: A year ago, Ms. Marfa Rabkova, coordinator of the “Viasna” volunteer network, was detained, and two weeks later, Mr. Andriy Chapyuk, a “Viasna” volunteer, was also imprisoned. Over the next twelve months, several criminal cases were opened against Vesna’s leadership, organization members and volunteers. The offices and private apartments of “Viasna” members were repeatedly searched, dozens of employees were detained. In January 2021, Mr. Leonid Sudalenko, the head of the “Viasna” Gomel branch, and Ms. Tetyana Lasytsya, a volunteer from the same branch, were put in prison. Their trial is ongoing.
List of detainees and charges against them in accordance with the Criminal Code of Belarus:
Ms. Marfa Rabkova, coordinator of the volunteer service “Viasna”. She was detained on September 17, 2020 and has been in pre-trial detention since. She is accused of “educating and preparing people to take part in mass riots”, “inciting racial, national, religious or other social hatred or enmity committed by a group of persons“, as well as “participating in a criminal organization“. She faces up to 12 years in prison.
Mr. Andriy Chepyuk, “Viasna” volunteer from Minsk. He was detained on October 2, 2020 and charged with “participation in mass riots” and “participation in a criminal organization.” He faces up to 7 years in prison.
Mr. Leonid Sudalenko, head of the Gomel branch of “Viasna”. He was arrested on the way to the office on January 18, 2021. Sudalenko provided legal assistance to dozens of residents of the Gomel region who were detained and accused of participating in post-election protests.
Andriy Chepyuk, “Viasna” volunteer from Minsk. He was detained on October 2, 2020 and charged with “participation in mass riots” and “participation in a criminal organization“. He faces up to 7years in prison.
Leonid Sudalenko, head of the Gomel branch of “Viasna”. He was detained on the way to the office on 18th of January, 2021. Sudalenko provided legal assistance to dozens of residents of the Gomel region who were detained and accused of participating in post-election protests.
Ms. Tetyana Lasytsya, activist, volunteer of the Homel branch of “Viasna”. She was detained on January 21, 2021 on charges of “organizing or participating in group activities that grossly violate public order“. She faces up to 3 years in prison.
Ms. Maria Tarasenko, a volunteer from the Homel branch of “Viasna”, was detained on 18th of, 2021 January. She was released after she agreed to sign a restriction of travel order ( also known as a signature bond, which allows a person to leave the courthouse/jail with a written promise done by a person accused of a crime that they will appear in court whenever required).
The Center for Civil Liberties, in the framework of the joint international campaign for the release of “Viasna” activists #FreeViasna, expresses solidarity with political prisoners-human rights activists and calls on the Belarusian authorities to:
– Fully abide by its international human rights obligations as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, respect the rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly and expression of all people in Belarus.
– Respect and protect the work of human rights defenders and ensure that everyone has the right to complain about the policies and actions of individual officials and public authorities, and to offer and provide professionally qualified legal assistance or other appropriate advice and assistance in protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
– In accordance with these commitments, immediately release Marfa Rabkova, Andriy Chepyuk, Tetyana Lasytsa, Leonid Sudalenko, Ales Belyatsky, Valentyn Stefanovych and Volodymyr Labkovych; drop charges against Maria Tarasenko and other Viasna employees and volunteers and ensure their access to legal protection against illegal persecution.
We also call on the Ukrainian media to pay more attention to Belarusian issues, and on organizations and initiatives to be actively involved in the process of solidarity with the Belarusian people and political prisoners.
The #FreeViasna is a global campaign that was initiated by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the oldest human rights organization and its partners.
