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Belarusians Demand To Recognize All Defendants In ‘Patriots Case’ As Political Prisoners

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Belarusians Demand To Recognize All Defendants In ‘Patriots Case’ As Political Prisoners
PHOTO: CHARTER97.ORG

Renowned politicians and civil activists announced launching of the civil campaign.

The HR Forum "Freedom to Belarusian Political Prisoners" announces a civil campaign to collect signatures on the recognition of the defendants in the "patriots case" as political prisoners at the international level.

“We are convinced that the ruling regime of the Republic of Belarus will not stop in its desire to find “militants”, illegal armed groups at the territory of our country, wanting to intimidate the population with an aim to preserve own power, if the international community does not take a clear principle position on this issue, does not recognize the defendants in the “patriots case” as political prisoners before the actual trial. If this doesn’t happen, we are going to witness the appearance of more and more criminal cases on the non-existent “militants” and armed groups, which will totally destabilize the political situation in the Republic of Belarus. The Belarusian people remember the horrible times of Stalin repressions, when thousands of human lives were sacrificed for the sake of preserving and strengthening the power, under the same falsified charges as in the "patriots' case." The tragedy of 1930-1950 should never happen again. "

The petition on recognition of the defendants in the “patriots case” as political prisoners is available on change.org.

The Сharter97.org offers the full text of the petition for your attention:

“The Government of the Republic of Belarus claims that there are no political prisoners in the country, but only the prisoners detained under the ordinary criminal legislation. In the conditions of the existing authoritarian regime in the Republic of Belarus there is no legal and fair justice, the court is fully ruled by the executive power and solely by the head of state. Individuals are arrested and subjected to trial with the appearance of lawfulness while criminal cases on false charges, falsified evidence and unfair trials are used against them to hide the fact that a person is a political prisoner. It is the political motives of the authorities that form the basis of political repression against the citizens of the Republic of Belarus. Such actions of the state are condemned at the national and international level, as a violation of human rights or persecution for political reasons.

In March 2017, the authorities arrested members of the patriotic sports club “Patriot”, officially registered at the territory of the Republic of Belarus; former members of the “White Legion” organization, which terminated its activity long ago; as well as members of the “Young Front”, exactly due to political motives. 35 people were arrested in tootal, some of them were released later. To date, the list of arrested persons in the “patriots case” includes 17 people.

The human rights forum "Freedom to Political Prisoners of Belarus" on April 13, 2017, recognized all the detainees in the "mass riots preparation case", instigated under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, 16 of whom were additionally charged under Article 287 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus "organization of illegal armed groups" (Appendix 1) (hereinafter referred to as "patriots case") as political prisoners.

Participants of the human rights forum "Freedom for Political Prisoners of Belarus" appeal to international human rights organizations with the following request:

- To internationally recognize all persons involved in the "patriots case" as political prisoners, according to the AI criteria, "Objective criteria developed by the Council of Europe's experts in relation to the cases of "political prisoners"(Annex 2) ;

- To demand that the authorities of the Republic of Belarus should immediately release from custody all those arrested in this case till trial;

- to demand open, non-biased and fair trials;

- to stop pressure on the detainees, their families, to stop using tortures against them;

- to demand the termination of the intimidation of the Belarusian society by non-existent "militants", "terrorists", instilling fear and instability in the society.

“We are convinced that the ruling regime of the Republic of Belarus will not stop in its desire to find “militants”, illegal armed groups at the territory of our country, wanting to intimidate the population with an aim to preserve own power, if the international community does not take a clear principle position on this issue, does not recognize the defendants in the “patriots case” as political prisoners before the actual trial. If this doesn’t happen, we are going to witness the appearance of more and more criminal cases on the non-existent “militants” and armed groups, which will totally destabilize the political situation in the Republic of Belarus. The Belarusian people remember the horrible times of Stalin repressions, when thousands of human lives were sacrificed for the sake of preserving and strengthening the power, under the same falsified charges as in the "patriots' case." The tragedy of 1930-1950 should never happen again. "

Hoping for the international human rights defense and solidarity.”

Participants of the Human Rights Forum "Freedom to Belarusian Political Prisoners" 17.05.2017.

Mikhail Pastukhou, honoured lawyer of the Republic of Belarus, civil figure

Pevel Seviarynets, politician (BCD Co-Chairman), former political prisoner;

Anatol Liabedzka, politician, UCP Chairman, former political prisoner

Uladzimir Niakliaeu, poet, civil figure, politician, former political prisoner

Andrei Sannikov, politician, former political prisoner

Mikalai Statkevich, politician (Chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party “People’s Assembly), former political prisoner

Slavamir Adamovich, politician, poet, former political prisoner

Mikalai Dziadok, participant of the anarchist movement, EHU student, journalist, former political prisoner;

Zmitser Dashkevich, politician ( Young Front Chairman), former political prisoner

Eduard Palchys, blogger, former political prisoner

Ales Kirkevich, journalist, former political prisoner

Aliaksandr Fiaduta, political observer, analyst, publicist former political prisoner

Raman Vasilyeu, civil activist, former political prisoner

Uladzimir Yaromenok, civil activist, former political prisoner

Aliaksandr Frantskevich, participant of the anarchist movement, former political prisoner

Andrei Bandarenka, human rights defender , former political prisoner

Katsiaryna Sadouskaya, human rights defender, former political prisoner

Yury Rubtsou, civil activist, former political prisoner

Mikalai Autukhovich, politician, former political prisoner

Siarhei Palcheuski, civil activist, former political prisoner

Aleh Vouchak, human rights defender

Vasil Zavadzki, human rights defender

Yury Vauchok, human rights defender

Hanna Shaputska, human rights defender

Ihar Lednik, human rights defender

Natallia Harachka, human rights defender

Viktar Melnikau, civil activist

Volha Nikalaichyk, director, civil activist

Sviatlana Kavalenka, civil activist

Victorias Tkachuk, civil activist

Ales Marchanka, civil activist

Dziyana Seradziuk, journalist

Yauhen Batura, civil activist

Angela Seradziuk, civil activist

Viktar Shaputska, civil activist

Ada Chalei, civil activist

Nina Bahinskaya, civil activist

Katsiaryna Malashchuk, civil activist

Mikalai Bambiza, civil activist

Natallia Bordak, civil activist

Larysa Stoma, civil activist

Alena Salauyova, civil activist

Alena Zhol, civil activist

Tatsiana Kim, former political prisoner’s mother

Aleh Zhaunou, political prisoner’s father

Liudmila Pospikh, political prisoner’s mother

Pavel Prakapovich, civil activist

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