European Forum

Human rights situation in Belarus worsens; police raids houses of rights activists

This week policemen and security forces in Belarus started mass searches at the places where human activists and political analysts live. On 18 May, the first searches were held in the Belarusian capital of Minsk in the headquarters of "Say the Truth!" civil campaign. The policemen had armoured vests and machine guns on them. All computers, leaflets, booklets and books were confiscated from the office. Riot policemen hindered journalists to make pictures and video the events. Local media reported that 11 activists of the campaign were detained and taken to the police station. About 20 persons in all searches in different parts of Minsk were taken to the police department. Raids were also held in the cities of Hrodna, Brest, Homen and Mahilyou. On 19 and 20 May the nationwide raids continued, including the confiscation of private belongings.

Police is telling those who are being searched that they are investigating a defamation criminal case involving the "dissemination of false information about goods and services". Some rights activists, however, told international media that they believe the raids are connected to the presidential election due to be held either at the end of this year or the beginning of 2011.

Challenge to the regime?
The Tell the Truth founder, writer Uladzimir Nyaklyayew, recently announced that he may run in the presidential election against incumbent Aleksander Lukashenka. Nyaklyayew (63) is chairman of the Union of Belarusian Writers.

Yuras Alejnik, a Tell the Truth activist in Minsk, told international media that he thinks the raids are part of an intimidation campaign against the group, which was formed in February. It's latest project was an effort to convince Minsk city authorities to rename the capital's Ulianauskaja Street in honour of late writer Vasil Bykau. Nyaklyayew said the Tell the Truth campaign was created to "prompt Belarusian society to realise the real state of affairs in the country where there is little room for the truth but where there are a lot of lies." He said the Tell the Truth campaign will give the public accurate information about the situation in the country. As part of the campaign, volunteers across the country will collect "false" information reported by the authorities. The groups findings are posted on the website zapraudu.info.

People who have given their support to the Tell the Truth campaign are renowned poets Ryhor Baradulin and Henadz Burawkin, artist Zinaida Bandarenka, Chornobyl researcher Henadz Hrushavy, scientist Radzim Haretski, Belarusian Association of Journalists head Zhanna Litvina, human rights activist Tatsyana Pratsko, and chessmaster Viktar Kupreychyk.

EU wants end of repression
President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek yesterday (19 May) called on the Belarusian authorities to “stop immediately all repression and intimidation of civil society groups and to get back on the way to democratisation”. On 18 May, he had a meeting with leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka and party’s deputy head Yaraslau Ramanchuk. Buzek expressed his serious concern about “the recent worsening of the human rights situation in Belarus”. “We see no improvements [in the human rights situation] but a clear deterioration, and this is deeply worrying me,” Buzek said. He also underlined that the EU–Belarus dialogue must be accompanied by “real progress in the field of democracy and clear signs of respect of human rights”. Buzek reminded that the suspended sanctions against certain Belarusian officials will be revised in autumn 2010.

Sources: Charter97; RFE/RL