International human rights organization Amnesty International stated about the unprecedented deterioration of the human rights situation in Belarus within six months' post-election period. In this regard, human rights activists continue to call for "the liberation of all prisoners of conscience who have been arrested and convicted for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of assembly and expression."
The organization called again upon the Belarusian authorities to respect the rights of all detainees and carry out «an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of human rights violations, including torture and ill-treatment in detention.»
Amnesty International notes in the report that the opposition key figures «have been detained, mistreated and sentenced after unfair trials.» According to human rights defenders, non-governmental organizations, civil society activists and journalists are being repressed in the country.
The organization counted 12 prisoners of conscience in Belarus (Andrei Sannikov, Nikolai Statkevich, Dmitri Uss, Dmitri Bondarenko, Dmitri Bulanov, Dmitri Dashkevich, Alesya Kirkevich, Nikita Likhovid, Eduard Lobov, Fiodor Mirzoyanov, Alexander Atroshchankau and Pavel Seviarynets), but it does not exclude that they may be joined by the others convicted opposition. «Amnesty International calls for their immediate and unconditional release,» said in a statement of human rights defenders.
