US Department of State says about total violation of human rights in Belarus

The situation in Belarus continues to concern the United States of America. The US Department of State published its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

A section on Belarus says about numeral violations of human rights on the country.

The introduction of the report stresses that Lukashenka’s government restricts freedom of press, association and religion. Democratic activists are persecuted on politically motivated grounds, Radio Svaboda reports.

One of Lukashenka’s opponents in the latest presidential election Alyaksandr Kazulin remains a prisoner. In January 2007, Lukashenka further consolidated his rule through local elections that failed to meet international standards.

The United Nations adopted in 2007a resolution on condemning the human rights situation in Belarus and calling for the release of all political prisoners.

The introduction to the Belarusian section says that president Alyaksandr Lukashenka has systematically undermined the country's democratic institutions and concentrated power in the executive branch through authoritarian means, manipulated elections, and arbitrary decrees that undermine the rule of law.

The Department of State notes that the Belarusian authorities continue to ignore recommendations by major international organizations to improve election processes and human rights.

Poor prison conditions and abuse of prisoners

Violations of human rights are grouped in different sections. In particular the section Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment writes about beating of Ales Kalita, Tatsyana Tsishkevich and Zmitser Khvedaruk, as well as Hrystina Shatikava’s incarceration in a psychiatric hospital.

What concerns detention center conditions the report offers the appraisal of Leila Zerrougui, chairperson of a UN working group on arbitrary detention, who reported that conditions in detention centers were worse than those in prisons.

A special section is dedicated to trial procedures. In particular, it says about Andrei Klimau’s trial, during which his family was pressured and it only became known publicly several days after the trial.

Refusal of the Supreme Court and commission to amnesty Alyaksandr Kazulin was also mentioned. At the same time cases of release of political prisoners Ivan Kruk, Katsyaryna Sadouskaya, Mikola Statkevich and Paval Sevyarynets were noted.

Claims against independent newspapers and expulsions from universities

What concerns freedom of speech, the report names more than ten independent newspapers that were denied of state system of subscription and delivery.

Politically motivated trials, initiated by member of the presidential administration Aleh Pralyaskouski and member of the Council of the Republic Mikalai Charhinets against the newspaper “Narodnaya Volya,” are noted in the report.

Blocking of political sites during a rally on Freedom Day is set as an example of restricting of the Internet freedom.

According to the report, about 20 students were dismissed from universities for political activity during 2007. Yury Aleinik’s case, expelled from President Management Academy, was given as an example.

The section dedicated to freedom of association reminds that the “For Freedom” movement, headed by Alyaksandr Milinkevich, has been denied registration two times, and denial registration of the Young Front and human rights organisation Vyasna.