Amnesty International: Unprecedented deterioration in the human rights situation in Belarus

• 22.06.2011, 8:08

Amnesty International says in its report that clampdown on dissenting voices continues unabated in Belarus six months after the country’s presidential elections.

Amnesty International continues its calls for the release of all prisoners of conscience who have been detained and sentenced for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of assembly and expression, Radio Svaboda reports.

The organization reiterates its calls for the Belarusian authorities to respect the rights of all detainees and to conduct immediate, thorough and impartial investigations into allegations of human rights violations that have taken place, including torture and ill-treatment in detention and fair trial violations.

The last six months have seen an unprecedented deterioration in the human rights situation in Belarus. Key opposition figures have been detained, ill-treated and convicted in unfair trials. Critical NGOs, civil society activists and journalists have faced harassment.

To date, Amnesty International has identified 12 prisoners of conscience in Belarus, in connection with the post-election demonstration, although the organization anticipates that others will be identified as research into each case continues.

Amnesty International reminds the Belarusian authorities that the right to a fair trial is a basic human right and serves as a fundamental safeguard to ensure that individuals are not unjustly punished.