The year was characterized by recurrent peaceful protests, with the presidential election in August serving as a catalyst for the most egregious crackdown on freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association in Belarus’ post-independence history. Opposition candidates, their campaign teams...

Responding to the news that Nasta Loika, a Belarusian human rights defender and educator, has been sentenced to seven years in a penal colony on trumped-up charges following a closed trial, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said: “The...

Responding to the sentencing of founder and chair of Viasna human rights centre and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, who received a sentence of ten years in prison, his colleague Valiantsin Stefanovich, deputy chair of Viasna and vice-president of the International Federation of Human...

Reacting to the beginning of a court hearing in the politically motivated case against Ales Bialiatski, 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and chair of the Viasna human rights group, and his colleagues Valiantsin Stefanovich, Uladzimir Labkovich and Dzmitry Salauyou, Marie Struthers, Amnesty...

The Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and a pervasive focus on ‘traditional values’ have contributed to a deterioration in human rights and rising levels of domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Amnesty International said...

Responding to reports that imprisoned opposition figure Mariya Kalesnikava has been rushed to intensive care from her ‘punishment cell’ to undergo surgery, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Marie Struthers, said: “The Belarusian authorities must immediately...

Responding to the news that human rights organisations from Ukraine and Russia, as well as rights advocate Ales Bialiatski of Belarus, have been awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said: “The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to human...

Responding to the news that a court in Belarus has sentenced human rights defenders Marfa Rabkova, Andrei Chapyuk and their eight co-defendants to lengthy prison terms, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said: “The harsh sentences meted out to...

Responding to news that a court in Belarus has begun a “conspiracy to seize power” trial against prominent political activists, including the leader of the Belarusian Popular Front party, Ryhor Kastusyou, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:...

Reacting to news that a court in Belarus sentenced Belsat TV journalist Katsyaryna Andreeva to eight years in prison on bogus “state treason” charges, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said: “Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s repressive apparatus continues...

Reacting to the news that a court in Belarus sentenced Danuta Pyarednya, a 20 year- old student from Mahiliou, to 6.5 years in jail for reposting a message criticizing the war in Ukraine and the role of Belarus’ ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka in it, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director...

Belarusian authorities have adopted a new law which introduces the death penalty for “attempts to carry out acts of terrorism.” Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said: “Belarus is the only state in Europe and Central Asia which still uses the...