Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Thomas Hammarberg, criticized the trial over the riots in Minsk. "At least 700 demonstrators were arrested in the evening after the elections on December 19 and a number of them are now prosecuted, unreasonably charged and sentenced severely," he said.
«A presidential candidate, Andrei Sannikov, who was ill-treated, is now sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in the reinforced regime colony, because he contested the fraud-rigging elections. Other persons, who appeared with him in court, were jailed for 3-3.5 years. They were charged with «organizing mass unrest,» Thomas Hammarberg wrote in his blog Human Rights Comment.
«The court blamed on well-known activists who were among the 30 thousand peaceful demonstrators on Independence Square for breaking windows of Government House, although in reality a small group of hooligans were responsible for that, acting separatly from the main demonstration, who were peacefully holding the rally in compliance with the order. False charges against peaceful demonstrators are the result,» said the Commissioner for Human Rights.
He also added that «politicized judicial procedures went along with pressing on human rights defenders by officials.» For example, the representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and Human Rights Centre «Viasna» were persecuted and this persecution only intensified after the explosion, which occurred in Minsk subway on April 11.
«Human rights activists are accused of being traitors and the «fifth columnists.» There are numerous reports of increasing restrictions on the overall human rights defenders and activists. They are harassed and repeatedly interrogated by law enforcement agencies. Searches are being conducted in private homes of most prominent human rights defenders, individuals and organizations are being warned with confiscation of computers and media,» says Thomas Hammarberg.
He reminded that Belarus is not included in the Council of Europe, since «doesn’t meet the requirements for joining this organization.»
«One of the consequences is that the citizens of this country cannot rely on mechanisms and programs in support of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It is especially important not to forget the fate of the Belarusian people and on our part to provide constructive assistance to civil society of the European country,» urged Tomas Hammarberg Hammarberg.
