Freedom House: Belarusian regime among most repressive regimes in world

• 11.03.2009, 9:24

Belarus is on the list of 20 least free countries in the world, according to the annual report on human rights issued by Freedom House, an American NGO.

According to Freedom House, Belarus has had the same ratings during the last few years: 7 for political rights (the lowest point) and 6 for civil liberties, Radio Svaboda reports.

Belarus is the only European country among 20 most repressive regimes. The American continent is represented by Cuba, the least free countries in Asia are former Soviet republics Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, China, Saudi Arabia, and the world’s most repressive state North Korea; Africa is represented by Zimbabwe, Sudan, and Libya.

It should be reminded that there are political prisoners in Belarus. They are leaders of the entrepreneurs’’ movement Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka, “Young Front” activist Artsyom Dubski, who is serving punishment for participation in a demonstration of businessmen last year.

Other young people, convicted in this case – Maksim Dashuk, Alyaksandr Charnyshou, Tatsyana Tsishkevich, Alyaksandr Barazenka, Paval Vinahradau, Mikhail Subach, Alyaksei Bondar, Mikhauil Kryvau, Mikhali Pashkevich, Alyaksandr Straltsou – are under threat of imprisonment, too.

Human rights activist Yana Palyakova, sentenced to 2.5 years of restraint of liberty, committed suicide.

Moreover, the opposition doesn’t have access to state media, and most independent newspapers don’t have an opportunity to be printed and distributed on the territory of Belarus.