Several Belarusian human rights defenders monitoring the presidential elections in Belarus for the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" were arrested on the night from 19 to 20 December 2010.

Further Information

The campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" was launched by two leading Belarusian human rights organisations – Human Rights Centre 'Viasna' (Spring) and Belarusian Helsinki Committee - with the aim to observe the presidential elections, to assess the conformity of the electoral process with Belarusian electoral legislation and international standards of free and democratic elections, and to keep the Belarusian public and international community duly informed about conclusions of the observation.

On 19 December 2010, at approximately 10pm, the opposition rally organised near the Governmental House to contest the official results was violently broken up by the riot police.

Mr Aleh Gulak, chair of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, who was there to observe the rally, was arrested by the police. He managed to call his colleagues from the police bus where he had been put together with demonstrators. He was first reportedly taken to Akrestina pre-trial detention facility and then to Pervomaysky district police station.

At approximately 3.15am on 20 December, special security officers raided the office of Human Rights Centre 'Viasna' in central Minsk where the data received from independent observers from all over the country were being collected and processed.

At 3.45am, members of 'Viasna', Messrs Valiantsin Stefanovich, Uladzimir Labkovich, Andrey Paluda, Zmitser Salaueu, Siarzhuk Sys, Uladzimir Mikalaeu, Aleg Zhlutka, Kanstantsin Staradubets, Vital Charniauski and Ms Nasta Loyka were arrested and brought to the Pervomaysky district police station and then released after an interrogation. The office was searched and all electronic equipment was ceased.

At approximately 7.00am, five policemen in plain clothes tried to enter the office of HRC 'Viasna'. When the staff refused to let them in, they started to break the doors. The chairman of 'Viasna', Mr Ales Bialiatski, came to the office and asked for a search warrant. The policemen failed to produce it and left a while later.

Members of HRC 'Viasna' are particularly at risk of criminal proceedings, as in 2003 'Viasna' was closed down by the Belarusian authorities under Article 193-1 of the Belarusian Criminal Code for “illegal organisation or activities of public associations, religious groups or foundations or participation in their activities.”

According to HRC 'Viasna', the number of people arrested, mostly during the peaceful demonstration of 19 December, could reach 400.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists reported on dozens of journalists beaten during the break up of the demonstration.

On 20 December 2010, at 4.40 am, the police also raided the office of the website Charter97, where chief editor Ms Natalia Radina was arrested before being brought to the State Security Agency (KGB).

At 6am, the coordinator of the civic campaign 'European Belarus', Mr Dmitry Bondarenko, was also arrested, he is currently detained in a KGB prison.