We, representatives of the Belarusian human rights community, reaffirming our position expressed in the joint statement of November 18, 2020 on the arrest of members of the Belarusian Students’ Union, note that their persecution by the Belarusian authorities is associated with the peaceful exercise of freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and international human rights standards in the field of freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly. // 24.11.2020
BSA is one of the oldest and most famous organizations of Belarusian youth. The association emerged as an anti-communist youth organization in the late 1980s, united democratic youth on the grounds of resistance to authoritarian regime during Lukashenko's dictatorship consolidation, for which it was deprived of legal registration in the early 2000s. However, the organization has withstood many repressions and has retained the ability to attract Belarusian youth, for whom the values of freedom, democracy and human rights are important. // 19.11.2020
We drew the attention of the Special Rapporteur to the fact that this situation greatly affects the inhabitants of Novaya Borovaya, who are active citizens engaged in political life, resulting in violation of their right to an adequate standard of living and the highest attainable standard of physical health. // 18.11.2020
Numerous video footage of the incident and testimonies by eyewitnesses allow us to conclude that officers of special units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus were involved in the crime with a high degree of probability. This is evidenced, in particular, by the purpose of their actions (removing the protest symbols), equipment typical of law enforcement agencies, professional and coordinated actions of the attackers when detaining and carrying Raman to a minibus, which allegedly belongs to one of special police units, and the eventual transportation of the detainee to the district police department. Failure to take immediate law-stipulated measures to investigate the crime is further evidence of the government's involvement in its commission. // 16.11.2020
We consider the persecution of Dzmitry Dubkou, Tsimur Ryzapur, Viktar Siadou, Valery Kalenchyts, Pavel Niapeuny, Dzmitry Kanapelka, Raman Kananovich, Yauhen Prapolski, Raman Hvazdziolak, Yury Kuzmich, Ivan Bahdzevich, Maryia Nestserava, Ihar Prazhennikau, Dzianis Hutsin, Maksim Babich (minor), Kiryl Paulavets, Volha Klaskouskaya, Dzianis Dzemukh, and Yauhen Dzmitryeu to be politically motivated, as it is solely linked to the exercise of their freedom of peaceful assembly and expression related to the announced results of the presidential election and are calling them political prisoners. // 05.11.2020
