The need for interaction between civil society and governments to improve legislation for the prevention and avoidance of additional problems again becomes clear and obvious. Continue reading »

The Committee on the norms and standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO) drew the attention of the Belarusian authorities to the need to bring national legislation into conformity with the requirements of the ILO Convention № 29, which stated prohibition of forced labor. Continue reading »
Svietłahorsk wheelchair activist Jury Lašenka wrote a personal complaint to the UN Committee on Human Rights.
He will protect his right to freedom of expression in the international court, because he did not find protection of his rights within the country. Continue reading »
In 2012, a reporter and then a student of journalism department Anton Surapin spent a month in the KGB detention center for allegedly aiding the teddy bear air drop team. Continue reading »

Leaflets with such a title were distributed on Saturday in Połacak near the entrance of the enterprise “Škłovałakno” by the activists of Belarusian Free Trade Union.
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European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) recognized the detention of one-man picketers in Russia violation of Article of the Convention on Human Rights and awarded them € 35 thousand. Continue reading »
Human Rights Center “Viasna” Continue reading »
During the preliminary hearing the representative of Slutsak District Council of Deputies defended the legality of blocking of the standard-setting initiatives of the local democratic activist Vital Amialkovich in support of the right to peaceful assembly. Continue reading »
Prominent human rights lawyer Intigam Aliyev, who has been imprisoned in Azerbaijan since 2014, was expected to be released on March 28 after his jail term was changed to a suspended sentence. Continue reading »
Administrative punishments for exercising right to peaceful assembly and expression of opinion in Belarus continues. Continue reading »
RUSSIAN FEDERATION: Members of the Joint Mobile Group and journalists attacked in Ingushetia Continue reading »
“A world without the death penalty will not be weaker, it will only improve,” said Andrea Rigoni, representative of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, in his speech at today’s international conference in Minsk. Continue reading »
The experts underline that in their work they focused on the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR that don’t require introducing respective amendments into the Electoral Code and other legislative acts, i.e. they can be implemented before the electoral campaign of the next parliamentary elections kicks off, by means of regulations of the Central Electoral Committee. Continue reading »
Joint statement
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the other undersigned members of the Sport for Rights coalition express serious concern regarding the on-going disciplinary case against Yalchin Imanov, a prominent human rights lawyer in Azerbaijan. Continue reading »
It’s very complicated… when oligarchs or the modern “kings” in power believe that only they have exclusive rights for Human Rights.
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27-28 February, International experts joined ILIA program lawyers from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine to discuss the application of UN and Council of Europe human rights mechanisms. Continue reading »
The Human Rights Center “Viasna” has analyzed the situation in places of detention in Belarus and prepared a report on the results of monitoring in 2015. Continue reading »
Due to appeal to the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) Viciebsk member of the Conservative Christian Party BPF Jan Dzyarzhautsau managed to defend their rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly. Continue reading »
The UN Human Rights Committee has registered a complaint by Kanstantsin Zhukouski, a freelance journalist in Homieĺ, who was fined for covering a protest in Svietlahorsk in November 2014. Continue reading »
Legislation severely restricting freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly remained in place. Journalists continued to face harassment.
The Assembly of Democratic NGOs and the Center for Legal Transformation Lawtrend have prepared an annual report “Freedom of Associations and Legal Conditions for Non-Profit Organizations In Belarus”. Continue reading »
In Połacak February 13 local lawyers and human rights activists have signed an agreement on joint activities. Human rights activists have joined together to provide free assistance to residents of Połacak. In an economic downturn citizens are increasingly in need of legal protection of their rights, but do not have enough finances to pay for a lawyer. Continue reading »
In accordance with Article 8 of the Criminal Executive Code, which enshrines the foundations of the legal status of convicted persons, the State guarantees the protection of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of convicts, provides the statutory conditions of application of punishments and other measures of criminal responsibility in relation to convicts, guarantees social justice, their social, legal and other protection. Continue reading »
The Belarusian government has responded to a complaint submitted the UN Human Rights Committee by Volha Hrunova, the mother of Aliaksandr Hrunou, who was executed in 2014.
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A film about human rights defender Ales Bialiatski from the documentary series A Heart That Never Dies by filmmakers Erling Borgen of Norway and Tom Heinemann of Denmark is available online. Continue reading »
GENEVA (9 February 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Miklós Haraszti, today warned that opposition leaders, human rights activists, journalists, and many other citizens have been subjected to harassment, administrative procedures and fines since the October presidential election.
The Belarusian government has responded to a complaint submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee on behalf of former political prisoner Yury Rubtsou. The letter says that Rubtsou was not prosecuted for expressing his opinion, but for disobeying a lawful order from a police officer. Continue reading »
At the end of December 2015 the UN Human Rights Council has registered a complaint Viciebsk resident Peter Berlinov. Continue reading »
Freelance journalist Natallia Kryvashei complains to UN Human Rights Committee Continue reading »
A complaint submitted by human rights activist Leanid Markhotka to challenge a ban on a street protest imposed by the authorities of Salihorsk in December 2014 will be considered by the UN Human Rights Council. Continue reading »
On January 12, the Homieĺ District Court sentenced local journalist Larysa Shchyrakova to a fine of 4.6 mln rubles on charges of violating Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code (illegal manufacture of media products, and working without accreditation for foreign media). Continue reading »
The UN Human Rights Committee has registered a complaint submitted by Aliaksandar Protska, a resident of Homieĺ who attempted to stage a protest against the charges his daughter faced for alleged human trafficking. The communication has been sent to the State for comments on the merits. Continue reading »
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has written to the Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Uladzimir Makei urging the government to respect the country’s international obligations within the framework of the United Nations and to take steps to implement key requirements of the Human Rights Committee in the case of Ales Bialiatski, including the registration of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” and cancellation of his criminal record. Continue reading »
Human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka has received a decision adopted at the autumn session of the UN Human Rights Committee in case No. Continue reading »
On December 24, journalist Larysa Shchyrakova was charged with illegal manufacture of media products (Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code) for the TV channel “Belsat”. Continue reading »
Intigam Aliyev, President of the Legal Education Society (LES), Azerbaijan, and a member of the Council of Europe’s Expert Council on non-governmental organisation (NGO) law, was today named the winner of the 2015 International Bar Association (IBA) Human Rights Award. Continue reading »
VIENNA, 16 April 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned the sentencing of Rasul Jafarov, a free expression and free media advocate and human rights defender in Azerbaijan, to six and a half years in a penal colony. Continue reading »
A number of Belarusian NGOs have published a report prepared by graduates and experts of the Human Rights House Network’s program “International Law in Advocacy” as a result of a study entitled “Efficiency of the Use of International Human Rights Mechanisms in Respect of Belarus”. Continue reading »
Human rights activist Pavel Levinau received a message stating that the complaint distributor of the newspaper “Vitebsk courier” Mikhail Zhuravlev registered. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations informed of registration under number 2495/2014 submitted to the HRC communications under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Continue reading »
On 18 February, Yury Varonezhtsau, a resident of Homel who sent a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee, received a message from Geneva saying that his communication had been accepted by the Committee for consideration. The United Nations Human Rights Committee says it has registered the complaint authored together with human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka. The complaint dealt with a ban on a street rally in support of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski expected to be held in Homel on 4 August 2013.
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The UN Human Rights Committee has registered a complaint by a Homel activist of the United Civil Party Eduard Neliubovich, who appeals a ban on a street procession in support of the Ukrainian people and its wish to live in the European Union. He also appeals the prohibition of a picket in support of Ales Bialiatski and his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. Continue reading »
This is the conclusion made by local human rights defenders and civil society activists after familiarizing with the new ruling of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee of December 29, 2014 № 3778 “On mass events in Baranavichy and Repeal of certain decisions of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee”. Continue reading »
Representatives of the leading Belarusian human rights organizations met with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Belarus Miklos Haraszti. The event was held on February 2-3 in Vilnius as the Belarusian authorities do not recognize the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur and don’t let him visit Belarus. Continue reading »
After a series of circuit court hearings held at the police department of the Tsentralny district in Minsk, which caused much indignation, the official website of the Supreme Court published an official message providing “explanations regarding an incorrect media report”.
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The Salihorsk District Court has dismissed an appeal filed by local human rights activist Leanid Markhotka against a ban imposed by the district executive committee on a picket scheduled for the Human Rights Day, December 10. The case was considered by Judge Ala Trafimchuk. Continue reading »
A criminal trial of human rights defender Rasul Jarafov began on January 15th in Baku serious crime court. Continue reading »
Parents of pupils of former Belarusian-speaking class in Baranaviczy Tacciana and Aleh Malaszczanka and Antanina and Vasil Philipczyk appealed to Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus. Continue reading »
Politicians Siarhiej Kaliakin and Viktar Karneenka, in favor of whom the UN made a decision, demand from minister of foreign affairs Uladzimier Makej to take measures directed to reconsider the application on state registration of established human rights civil organization “For Free Elections”. An appeal about revision of the case upon delivery of new facts is already made to the Chairman of Supreme court Valiancin Sukalo. Continue reading »
Consideration of the periodic report of Belarus in the United Nations Human Rights Committee rescheduled from the 113 session (March 2015) to the 114th session that is to be held in July 2015. Information about this appeared on the website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
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Representative of Swedish organization «Östgruppen» comments on decision of Minsk court which denied dismissing previous court judgment on deportation of human rights defender Alena Tankaczova from Belarus. Continue reading »
The UN Committee on Human Rights published a decision on the appeal № 1987/2010, adopted at the 112th session of the Committee. According to this decision, the Republic of Belarus as a country – party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognizes the rights violator activist Anatoly Stambrovski provided for in paragraph 2 of article 19 of the Covenant.
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January 8, Hrodna Regional Court dismissed the appeal of the journalist Andrei Mialeshka against a fine. Judge Anatol Zayats supported the court of the first instance and left its verdict unchanged.
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2015 will be a key year for Belarus. Continue reading »
The United Nations Human Rights Committee at its October session examined the case of ex-presidential candidate Aliaksandr Kazulin and found violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, says human rights activist Raman Kisliak, Radio Racyja reports. Continue reading »
Human rights activist Siarhei Housha has filed a complaint to the Baranavichy City Court against the decision of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee according to which he has been prohibited to hold a picket dedicated to the 66th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Continue reading »
Human rights activist Leanid Markhotka has sent to the court of Salihorsk district an appeal against a ban imposed by local officials on a picket that was scheduled for Human Rights Day. Prior to this, Mr. Markhotka wrote to the prosecutor, but that attempt failed.
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Alena Tankachova, Director of the Center for Legal Transformation “Lawtrend”, sent on December 24 to the court of Minsk’s Pershamaiski district an appeal against the decision of the district police department to expel her from the country for three years.
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The Vitsebsk Regional Court has heard the appeals of local journalists and activists who were fined for unauthorized picketing as a result of a photo session on November 5. The appeals were dismissed by the court, who did not accept the arguments that it was not picketing, but a photo shoot and upheld the ruling of the Chuhynachny district court.
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The human rights public association “Movement of supporters for the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights PAKT” has been registered in Lithuania. This was announced by the NGO’s executive director Leanid Sudalenka. Continue reading »
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has considered the case of an activist of the Movement For Freedom Vital Symonik and found a violation of his right to disseminate information (Art. 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights). Continue reading »
Vitebsk human rights activist Leonid Svetik appealed to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus with the proposals to consider life insurance and health of prisoners (convicts). Continue reading »
Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka and the civil society activist Halina Bialova have received an answer from Homel City Executive Committee regarding their application for holding a procession on Human Rights Day, December 10.
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Baranavichy City Executive Committee banned the picket dedicated to the 66th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, organized by the human rights activists Viachaslau Bolbat and Siarhei Housha.
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UN Human Rights Committee on condemned the violation of Belarus’s international legal obligations through the execution of Aliaksandr Hrunou whose case was considered by the HRC at the time. HRC requested Belarusian authorities to suspend the execution of the sentence until the consideration of the case, but the sentence was carried out, and now the case will be considered, despite the fact that the applicant had already been shot.
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On November 28 court of Leninski district of Minsk investigated the administrative case of deputy head of the Conservative Christian Party of Belarusian Popular Front Juras Bielenki and fined him for the amount of 30 basic amounts (4.5 million BYR) for the demonstration to the place of shooting of victims of Bolshevik terror on November 9.
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On November 27, the Svetlahorsk City Court was expected to hear the administrative charges brought against Yury Liashenka, an activist for the right of persons with disabilities.
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The human rights activist wants to get an official response, can be photographed in Vitebsk without permission. The basis for the administration of the treatment was the incident with the Vitebsk journalists and activists who are accused of holding an unauthorized action “based on” snapshots with the photo shoot. Continue reading »
On November 21, the court of the Maskouski district of Minsk considered an appeal against a decision of the Minsk City Executive Committee, which banned a picket of solidarity with Ukraine citing obviously far-fetched reasons, the press service of the Committee “Solidarity” reports.
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The United Nations Human Rights Committee has found numerous violations of the right to disseminate information against a United Civil Party activist from Homel Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh. The Committee recommends the Belarusian authorities to restore the activist’s rights, to compensate for all the costs incurred, as well as to change the law “On Mass Events”. Continue reading »
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has found a violation of the right to peaceful assembly and information in the case of BPF member Siarhei Lazenka. The activist sent his individual communication back in 2008. Continue reading »
The case of the resident of the Drahichyn district Vasil Yuzepchuk was considered by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in October 2014. The Committee admitted violation of paragraph 3 of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as Yuzepchuk was not brought before a judge promptly to address the issue of his arrest. Continue reading »
Members of the Conservative Christian Party Belarusian Popular Front Piatro Sarapenia and Yan Dziarzhautsau wanted to conduct their event on November 7 in order to inform the citizens about the consequences of the October coup d’etat and the need to ban the Communist Party of Belarus and its ideology. Continue reading »
Belarusian human rights organizations appealed to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, as well as to the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus with a request to urgently intervene.
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Persecution of expression is the most often one in Belarus. Homel Center for Strategic litigation made this conclusion on the bases of analysis of all decisions of the UN Committee on Human Rights made on Belarusian cases. Head of the Center Leanid Sudalenka emphasized: every second Belarusian case considered in Geneva is on prosecution of people for expressing opinions.
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The UN Special Rapporteuron Belarus, Miklos Haraszti on October 28 presented his report on the situationin the countrywithin the framework ofthe 69 thsession of theUN General Assembly.
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Ales Bialiatski: Awarding of the Vaclav Havel Prize – a strong signal to the Azerbaijani authorities
Ales Bialiatski, head of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna” and Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights, was in Strasbourg at the opening session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where on September 29 has been named the winner of the Vaclav Havel Prizeon human rights.
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A United States Government Inter-Agency delegation from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Departments of State and Defence completed a two and a half day official visit to Minsk. The delegation included Paige Alexander, Assistant Administrator of USAID; Thomas Melia, Deputy Assistant Secretary from Department of State; and Evelyn Farkas, Deputy Assistant Secretary from Department of Defence. Continue reading »
Below is Rasul Jarafov’s appeal to the International Community about his unlawful arrest and the case against him. Continue reading »
Human rights defender Siarhei Housha has received a reply from the Baranavichy City Executive Committee, signed by the Deputy Chairman Dzmitry Kastsiukevich, to his letter, in which he asked to specify the reason for the ban on a picket scheduled for July 27. Continue reading »
Paris-Geneva, August 6, 2014 – The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, an FIDH-OMCT joint programme, deplores the recent acts of harassment and arrests of prominent human rights defenders Rasul Jafarov, Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunusov, and calls on the authorities to put an end to the ongoing repression against civil society organisations and representatives. Continue reading »
There is a picket in support of Mikalai Statkievicz and against Russian military aggression against the Ukraine is banned in Zhodzina. This ban was expected, because the applicants didn’t manage to attach to the application copies of paid service agreements with the police, health professionals and utility providers, which are necessary according to article 5 of Decree №1020 by Zhodzina executive committee from year 2012. Real impracticability (and moreover illegality) of this demand from applicants of peaceful assembly, but not “other public events” (sport, commercial, etc.) doesn’t bother local authorities. Continue reading »
This was reported to Human Rights Center “Viasna” by the head of Belarusian DocumentationCenter Raisa Mikhailouskaya.
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64 NGOs from 13 Human Rights Houses call upon the Azerbaijani authorities, in their joint letter to President Ilham Aliyev, to immediately and unconditionally release Leyla Yunus, Arif Yunus and Rasul Jafarov, and lift all charges held against them. The NGOs also repeat their previous call to release Anar Mammadli and Bashir Suleymanli, and join calls for the release of Hasan Huseynli. Continue reading »
There is a new banner in our category “Recommendations”, and exactly in section which is just at the end at the left side of the column with the titles of categories of the website. This interactive logo of the recourse allows visiting the website of human rights defenders of the Ukraine “Strategic litigation platform”. Continue reading »
Human rights defender Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus have been arrested on 30 July 2014. Leyla Yunus was sentenced to 3 months pre-trial detention, whilst her husband is under police control and not allowed to leave Baku. We call for Leyla Yunus’ immediate and unconditional release, as we see this as part of the persecution against human rights defenders and activists in Azerbaijan. Continue reading »
Azerbaijan’s most prominent human rights campaigner has been detained with her husband while trying to leave the country.
Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus, an academic, were hoping to board a flight from the capital Baku to Doha in Qatar, but were held at the airport. Continue reading »
Housing and utility sector of Zhodzina has a choice – either 10 milliom BYR for one sheet of trash after a human rights picket or just 1 million BYR for performance of their official duties according to conditional prepaid agreement. Such additional suggestions on conducting an agreement were made by human rights defenders who applied for peaceful assembly in Zhodzina.
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On Thursday it was announced that Belarus has sent an invitation to the UN Human Rights Council Rapporteurs. Human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich said that this is not the first time that our government invites UN experts, but the approach to the process is very selective.
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On the 28th of March of present year the United Nations Human Rights Committee recognized that authorities of the Republic of Belarus violated rights of member of Zhlobin region organization of the Belarusian Left Party “A Just World” Uladzimier Kirsanau on holding a peaceful assembly by prohibiting him to hold a picket in Zhlobin in order to attract attention of the society to the problems of liquidation of political parties and non-governmental organizations in the country. Continue reading »
Eduard Nialubovicz, an activist of the United Civic Party of Belarus from Homiel addressed the UN Human Rights Committee with an appeal, which contains complaint on the prohibition of two peaceful assemblies – a picket in support of political prisoner and human rights defender Ales Bialiacki on the 10th of November and street procession in support of the Ukrainian Maidan on the 21st of December by local authorities. Continue reading »
On the 18th of July human rights defenders Sviatlana Lapickaja and Aliaksiej Lapicki applied to executive committee of Zhodzina for holding picket in support of political prisoners.
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Local human rights defender Uladzimier Cieliapun made an application for holding a picket on the 3rd of August to Mazyr regional executive committee. A picket is to protest regarding political prisoners in Belarus, supporting them and claiming for their immediate release. Continue reading »
Human rights defenders from Biaroza town made an application for holding a picket to coincide with the anniversary of accepting of Declaration of Independence of Belarus. As it is the day on which Supreme Soviet of BSSR opened a new milestone in the history of our country. Continue reading »
On June 27, the Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House hosted a press conference of Ales Bialiatski, a former political prisoner, Head of the Human Rights Centre Viasna, Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and one of the Belarusian HRH founders. Ales Bialiatski thanked those present for the attention, but repeatedly reminded about the rest of Belarusian political prisoners.
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GENEVA (24 June 2014) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Miklós Haraszti, welcomed the release from prison of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, but called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and their full rehabilitation. Continue reading »
“It is OK to be in prison for the sake of a democratic, independent Belarus,” said Ales Bialiatski during a press conference held today in the Minsk office of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”. He then crossed out his name on a T-shirt bearing the names of the remaining seven political prisoners. Continue reading »
A well-known human rights activist Ales Bialiatski has been released. He told his wife Natalya Pinchuk about that over the phone. She reported about that to charter97.org website.
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The UN Human Rights Committee admitted to consideration a complaint by Viktar Sazonau, a human rights defender from Hrodna, Radio Racyja reports.
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Dunja Mijatovic calls on Belarusian authorities to repeal accreditation requirements for journalists
Belarusian media law requires mandatory state accreditation for foreign and national journalists and recognizes only those journalists working for state-registered media organizations.
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The Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the well-known lawyer and human rights defender Hary Pahaniayla sent a petition to the Constitutional Court to highlight the flaws of language-related legislation, which result in the discrimination of one of the official languages, Belarusian.
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