ACAT (Harrow Group) – Prayer Case of the Month (June 2021)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

ACAT (Harrow group) – prayer case of the month (June 2021) Please pray as you feel led for Roman Protasevich (26) who was detained with his girlfriend by the Belarusian government after the commercial flight in which he was travelling from Athens to Vilnius was intercepted on 23 May in Belarusian airspace by a Belarusian fighter jet and directed to land in Minsk. Roman Protasevich is a Belarusian journalist, blogger, photographer and co-founder of the popular NEXTA Telegram channel, which became a key tool for information- sharing, mobilization and coordination of peaceful protests against widely-disputed presidential election results in August 2020. He left NEXTA in September 2020 and has been editing the Belamova Telegram channel since then. Since 2019, Roman Protasevich has been living outside Belarus and based in Poland out of fear for his safety. On 5 November 2020, he was charged with "organization of mass disorder", "organization of group actions that severely violate public order" and "inciting hatred towards social groups" (these “groups” being police officers and government officials). On 24 May, pro-government media issued a video depicting Roman Protasevich in a room with his face swollen and with what looks like a bruise on his forehead. In the video, he says that he is “cooperating with the investigators” and “giving confessions related to organization of mass disorders in the city of Minsk”. Such video “confessions” extracted under duress have been repeatedly used by the Belarusian authorities to intimidate and discredit their opponents. If convicted, Roman Protasevich is facing up to 20 years' imprisonment. He is also at serious risk of further torture and other ill-treatment which have been widespread in Belarus against detained opponents of President Alexander Lukashenka. Since the August 2020 election, over 30,000 people have been arbitrarily detained and many have complained of torture and ill treatment. .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

EP Resolution of 26 November 2020
European Parliament 2019-2024 TEXTS ADOPTED Provisional edition P9_TA-PROV(2020)0331 The continuous violations of human rights in Belarus, in particular the murder of Raman Bandarenka European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2020 on the continuous violations of human rights in Belarus, in particular the murder of Raman Bandarenka (2020/2882(RSP)) The European Parliament, – having regard to its previous resolutions on Belarus, in particular those of 17 September 2020 on the situation in Belarus1, of 4 October 2018 on the deterioration of media freedom in Belarus, notably the case of Charter 972, of 19 April 2018 on Belarus3, of 6 April 2017 on the situation in Belarus4, and of 24 November 2016 on the situation in Belarus5, – having regard to its recommendation of 21 October 2020 to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) on relations with Belarus6, – having regard to the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020, which was awarded to the democratic opposition in Belarus on 22 October 2020, – having regard to the statement of the President of the European Parliament of 13 August 2020 and that of the leaders of the five political groups of 17 August 2020 on the situation in Belarus following the so-called presidential elections of 9 August 2020, – having regard to the European Council conclusions of 1 October 2020 and of 16 October 2020, and to the Council conclusions on Belarus of 12 October 2020, – having regard to the Council decision of 6 November 2020 to add 15 members of the Belarusian authorities, including Aliaksandr Lukashenka, to the list of sanctioned individuals, bringing the total number of Belarusians subject to a travel ban and asset 1 Texts adopted, P9_TA(2020)0231.
[Show full text]
Annex to News Release Financial Sanctions: Belarus the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (Eu Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/60
ANNEX TO NEWS RELEASE FINANCIAL SANCTIONS: BELARUS THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS (SANCTIONS) (EU EXIT) REGULATIONS 2019 (S.I. 2019/600) ADDITIONS Individuals 1. AURAMENKA, Aliaksei Mikalaevich DOB: 11/05/1977. POB: Minsk, Belarus a.k.a: (1) AURAMENKA, Aleksey, Nikolaevich (2) AURAMENKA, Alexey (3) AVRAMENKO, Aleksey, Nikolaevich (4) AVRAMENKO, Alexey Nationality: Belarusian Position: Minister for Transport and Communication Other Information: (UK Sanctions List Ref):BEL0100 (UK Statement of Reasons):In his position as Minister for Transport and Communication of the Republic of Belarus, Aliaksei Auramenka is responsible for the state management of civil aviation and supervision of air traffic control. He is therefore responsible for the forced redirection and landing of Ryanair passenger flight FR4978 at Minsk airport, without proper justification, on 23 May 2021. In so doing, Auramenka acted at the direction of Alexander Lukashenko and in conjunction with the Belarusian Ministry of Defence. These politically motivated decisions were aimed at detaining and arresting the opposition journalist and civil society actor Roman Protasevich and Protasevich’s partner Sofia Sapega and are a form of repression against civil society and democratic opposition in Belarus. Therefore, Aliaksei Auramenka is responsible for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Belarus and so undermined democracy and the rule of law there. (Gender):Male Listed on: 21/06/2021 Last Updated: 21/06/2021 Group ID: 14118 2. BELIAKOV, Oleg Nikolaevich a.k.a: (1)
[Show full text]
Open PDF 215KB
Foreign Affairs Committee Oral evidence: The situation in Belarus and the FCDO’s response, HC 336 Tuesday 15 June 2021 Ordered by the House of Commons to be published on 15 June 2021. Watch the meeting Members present: Tom Tugendhat (Chair); Stewart Malcolm McDonald; Andrew Rosindell; Henry Smith; Royston Smith; Graham Stringer; Claudia Webbe. Questions 1-30 Witnesses I: Victoria Fedorova, Head of Legal Initiative, Belarusian Human Rights NGO, and Professor Philippe Joseph Sands QC, Professor of the Public Understanding of Law, Faculty of Laws at University College London, Samuel and Judith Pisar Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, and British and French Lawyer at Matrix Chambers. II: Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and Andrius Kubilius MEP, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs at the European Parliament. III: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leader of the Belarusian Opposition. Examination of witnesses Witnesses: Victoria Fedorova and Professor Philippe Joseph Sands. [Audio loss between 14:32 and 14:37.] Q1 Chair: [Sound loss.] Are you worried about Roman Protasevich and his current detention? Victoria Fedorova: Yes. We believe Roman Protasevich is a hostage of Lukashenka. It is not ethical to discuss or comment on what he says in interviews, because state propaganda used him for a third time to show some kind of—I can’t even comment on those words. First of all, his girlfriend Sofia Sapega was detained with him and criminal charges were also brought against her. Secondly, the regime openly declared that the state will co-operate with the so-called law enforcement bodies of the unrecognised entity that is the Luhansk people’s republic.
[Show full text]
Hubo Fallas De La UNOPS Y Tuvimos Que Entrar a Apoyar
Javier Solórzano Rafael Rojas Bibiana Belsasso HOY ESCRIBEN Las formas del Presidente pág. 2 Hamlet Lavastida y el Estado profiláctico pág. 4 La detención de Cárdenas Palomino pág. 12 www.razon.com.mx MIÉRCOLES 7 de julio de 2021 » Nueva época » Año 13 Número 3761 PRECIO » $10.00 YA HAY TERCERA OLA: SALUD, TRAS REPUNTE DE 22% EN CONTAGIOS Alza, en sólo una semana: López-Gatell; mor- tandad y hospitalizaciones son menores, dice Virólogos llaman a nuevo confinamiento; RECIBEN A picos, por relajación de medidas y variantes CAMPOS EN PALACIO... EN 7,989 CIFRAS EN 233,958 CHIHUAHUA Casos, ayer: ya MÉXICO Decesos; 269 más que el registro del lunes AÚN NO suman 2,549,862 EL PRESIDENTE se Hospital en Autódromo Hermanos Rodrí- reunió con María Eugenia Campos; guez seguirá abierto ante aumento de positivos es la primera de los gobernadores elec- BCS, Q. Roo, CDMX, Tabasco y Yucatán con- tos de oposición que cita el mandatario; centran 26% casos a nivel nacional págs. 3 y 4 Especial acuerdan buena • relación pág. 5 Foto POR UN VOTO DIFUSO LIBRA COMPRA DE MEDICAMENTOS TOLEDO SU DESAFUERO Dictamina Mesa Directiva que Sección Instructora en Diputados no obtuvo los 3 votos requeridos; Morena Hubo fallas de la sufragó a favor, PT en contra y PRI se abstuvo. pág. 10 CDMX le pega al crimen; delitos relevantes bajan 47% UNOPS y tuvimos Ilícitos de alto im- pacto pasaron de 141 al día en 2019 a 86.7 durante este que entrar a apoyar: año; titular de la SSPC destaca tra- bajo conjunto con Especial • Fiscalía capitalina Foto director del ISSSTE pág.
[Show full text]
Download the Pdf-Version of Issue 35 of Cultural Resistance Monitoring
No maer where we are and what’s happening to us, we are the trees of Belarus… 1. PERSECUTION, CONVICTIONS, CULTURAL POLICY 2. SYMBOLS 3. LIFE OF PEOPLE BEHIND BARS 4. DISSENT AND CULTURAL ACTIVISM 5. VOICES OF BELARUSIAN CULTURE 6. INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY STAND WITH BELARUSIAN ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY donate to Save Our Songs* *SUPPORTED BY PEN BELARUS 02 1. Persecution, Convictions, Cultural Policy Uładzimir Piatroŭ’s [Uladzimir Piatrou] contract wasn’t extended by The Opera House. Uładzimir Piatroŭ – People's Arst of Belarus, in the troupe since 1993 – in August 2020, together with Pavieł Łatuška [Pavel Latushka] and other workers of the Yanka Kupala theatre, recorded an-violence appeals. From the informaon of BY_Culture, the new director of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater Viačasłaŭ Harbuzaŭ [Viachaslau Harbuzau] is going to ﬁre the arsts who spoke against violence in the video appeal in 2020 (188 people), by the end of the summer. Three polical prisoners from the Union of Poles in Belarus – Irena Biarnackaja [Irena Bernatskaya], Maryja Ciškoŭskaja [Maria Tsishkouskaya] Фота мае ілюстратыўны характар. Edward Paterson @suh5pence, unsplash.com and Hanna Panišava [Hanna Panishava] were deported to Poland from the pre-trial prison, with no right to return to Belarus. Andrzej Poczobut, journalist, and the union’s chairwoman Anžalika Borys were also oﬀered release in exchange for deportaon from the country, but they refused. Andrzej Poczobut is denied access to the medicaon for his heart condion. 03 Dzianis Ivanoŭ, a chamber choir musician, was detained at his workplace at the Philharmonic on June 1 and sentenced to 15 days of administrave arrest.
[Show full text]
Urgent Action
First UA: 57/21 Index: EUR 49/4191/2021 Belarus Date: May 25, 2021 URGENT ACTION JOURNALIST FACING TORTURE AFTER ABDUCTION Exiled Belarusian journalist and government critic, Raman Pratasevich, was unlawfully arrested on May 23, 2021 by the Belarusian authorities along with his partner Sofia Sapega, a Russian national. Their Athens-Vilnius flight was diverted and forced to land in Minsk under false pretext. Raman Pratasevich was wanted by the Belarusian authorities on trumped-up “terrorism” charges solely for his journalistic work. If convicted, Raman Pratasevich is facing up to 20 years' imprisonment. A televised “confession” may indicate torture and other ill-treatment. TAKE ACTION: 1. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them. 2. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 57.21. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help. Andrei Shved Ambassador Dmitry Basik Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus Embassy of Belarus Vul. Internatsianalnaya 22, 220030 Minsk, Belarus 1619 New Hampshire Ave NW Email: [email protected] Washington, DC 20009 CC: [email protected] , [email protected] Phone: 202 986 9420 I Fax: 202 986 1805 Twitter: @prokuraturaby | Facebook: @prokuraturaby Email: [email protected] Instagram: @prokuraturaby Twitter: @BelarusEmbUSA Salutation: Dear Ambassador Dear Prosecutor General, I am writing to demand the immediate release of Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega, arrested on May 23, 2021 after their Athens-Vilnius flight was forcibly diverted by the Belarusian authorizes to Minsk under false pretext.
[Show full text]
The Moment a Belarusian Dissi
THE HUMAN RACE HAS ONE REALLY TODAY 1720 1914 2020 QUOTE EFFECTIVE WEAPON, AND THAT IS IN OF THE LAUGHTER The Ship “Le Grand St Antoine” British House of Commons passes Video of African American George Floyd’s arrest and murder while DAY HISTORY reaches Marseille, bringing Eu- the Irish Home Rule Bill restrained in Minneapolis police custody shows he was pinned to the MARK TWAIN rope’s last major plague outbreak. ground by police officer Derek Chauvin’s knee for 8 minutes and 46 TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 Kills around 100,000 seconds, ignites widespread condemnation and nationwide protests News in brief Difficult path of Azerbaijan in u Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said 1.3 democracy building The moment a Belarusian dissident knew his time was up million vaccines from China had TOP arrived in the South American country, which is poised to start a hours in Minsk. vaccination campaign in the coming Belarus says it was Another exhausted passenger, Europeans threaten to limit Belarus air traffic TWEETS4 days. The announcement comes as • speaking to reporters without Venezuela, mired in an economic crisis, acting in response to giving her name, said Protase- Reuters experiences a second wave of COVID-19 Venezuela a bomb threat on the vich looked “super scared”. cases amid a weak healthcare system and SHAHIN ABDULLAYEV flight, although this “I looked directly into his eyes uropean leaders threat- 01 slow vaccination rollout. “One million 300 receives 1.3 turned out to be false. and he was very sad,” she said. Eened to limit internation- thousand new vaccines have arrived for n May 28, 1918, the first democratic parliamentary re- Belarusian authorities had di- al air traffic over Belarus and Venezuelans direct from China, one million million COVID-19 public in the Muslim World – Azerbaijan Democratic It said on Monday its verted the flight as it passed over possibly target its ground 300 thousand, the arrival of vaccines is vaccines from oRepublic (ADR) – was proclaimed.
[Show full text]
Another Definitive Victory. Potasevich Interview to One TV Channel Flooded the Rest of Them
Another definitive victory. Potasevich interview to one TV channel flooded the rest of them Monitoring of State TV Narratives in Belarus (31/05/2021 – 06/06/2021) The purpose of this monitoring is to study how the Belarusian state conveys its ideological narrative. The most important mechanism for conveying its narrative is the evening broadcast. Then the informational function of media is complemented, and sometimes replaced by, the broadcasting of official ideological messages. We monitor the outputs of the Agency of the Television News (ATN), which prepares the news broadcasts for the Belarus- 1 channel (“Panorama” and Sunday’s “Main Airtime”), the channel ONT (“Our News”, “Saturday’s Edition” and “Contours”), and the channel STV (“24 Hour News” and “The Week”). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This week the state TV carried on the information campaign around the Protasevich case and the grounding of the Ryanair flight in Minsk. The detained activist's interview for the ONT channel took the spotlight across the entire media landscape. Monitoring of State TV Narratives in Belarus Page 1 of 8 Issue 46 (31/05/2021 – 06/06/2021) The case of the arrest and statements of Protasevich was used as evidence of uncovering the plans of the “foreign coordinators” of the protests. The assessments by the state-run TV ranged from purely mercantile explanations of the opponents' activities to descriptions of large-scale insidious plans of the West with regard to Belarus and Russia. Key narratives can be found in APPENDIX 1. Considerable airtime was given to the indignation about the imposed flight bans, which was interpreted as a politicized reaction or the plot to strangle a competitor — the Belavia air carrier.
[Show full text]
Navy Relaxes COVID-19 Rules Munity to Redouble Its Efforts to Determine the Virus’ Origin
FACES MILITARY NHL Zack Snyder mixes NATO warns of Rookies making social commentary Russia’s behavior early impact for into zombie movie toward Ukraine teams in playoffs Page 18 Page 3 Page 24 Illinois Reserve unit found to have mishandled assault reports ›› Page 3 stripes.com Volume 80 Edition 29 ©SS 2021 THURSDAY,MAY 27, 2021 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas VIRUS OUTBREAK Follow-up probe into pandemic’s origins sought The Washington Post WASHINGTON — The United States’ top health official called Tuesday for a swift follow-up in- vestigation into the coronavirus’ origins amid renewed questions about whether the virus jumped from an animal host into humans in a naturally occurring event or escaped from a lab in Wuhan, Chi- na. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told an annual ministe- rial meeting of the World Health Organi- zation that inter- national experts should be given “the independ- ence to fully as- Becerra sess the source of the virus and the early days of the outbreak.” Becerra’s remarks, which were prerecorded, signaled that the Bi- MOLLY CRAWFORD/U.S. Navy den administration would contin- Sailors assigned to Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Port Royal return to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, in April. ue to press the WHO to expand its investigation to determine the vi- rus’s origins. Additionally, Biden on Wednes- day asked the intelligence com- Navy relaxes COVID-19 rules munity to redouble its efforts to determine the virus’ origin. In a statement, Biden said he has Fully vaccinated sailors can now make some port calls and often go mask-free asked for a report within 90 days and hopes the intelligence com- BY NANCY MONTGOMERY RELATED plans and strategy, said in a state- “safe haven” ports, including in munity “will collect and analyze Stars and Stripes ment.
[Show full text]
Activists Unite in Taking the Knee One Year After Floyd’S Murder by Peter Lazenby on His Neck for Nine Minutes and 29 at the Hands of Police on February 7
PAGE 9 FEATURES: JOHN HENDY QC ON HIS CRUCIAL EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS BILL for Peace and Socialism £1.20 Wednesday May 26 2021 Proudly owned by our readers | Incorporating the Daily Worker | Est 1930 | morningstaronline.co.uk Pics: Stand up to Racism WORKERS DEMAND ACTION ON RACISM Activists unite in taking the knee one year after Floyd’s murder by Peter Lazenby on his neck for nine minutes and 29 at the hands of police on February 7. then there will be a lot more fami- “We have to keep fighting, we seconds, sparked worldwide protests “Definitely within the police lies grieving, mothers crying at have to go forward.” and the mobilisation of the Black force, there could be more educa- graveyards. There has to be change. Public and Commercial Services ANTI-RACIST campaigners across Lives Matter (BLM) movement. tion with regards to mental health Labour MP Diane Abbott said: “We union general secretary Mark Ser- Britain took the knee yesterday to Yesterday transatlantic messages awareness, educating the police with have to learn from each wotka said that the action in Glas- mark the first anniversary of the of solidarity were relayed between regards to the use of force and learn- other and learn what is gow was an inspiration and “shows murder of George Floyd by police Britain and the US, where the anni- ing a bit more about ethnic happening up and down the power of a united movement.” in the US and to demand action on versary was also marked. minorities in their area the country. “Let’s see many more Glasgows, systemic racism.
[Show full text]
Article 10-06-2021 - 17:14 20210527STO04907
Article 10-06-2021 - 17:14 20210527STO04907 #FreeRomanProtasevich: EU calls for release of Belarus journalist Free Roman Protasevich and Sofia Sapega ©Sergei Grits /AP Join the call for the release of Roman Protasevich and Sofia Sapega, who are being held by Belarus authorities. Find out how you can help. Directorate General for Communication 1 I 3 European Parliament - Spokesperson: Jaume Duch Guillot EN Contact: [email protected] Article Belarus journalist Protasevich and his girlfriend Sapega were on a flight from Athens to Vilnius on 23 May when the Belarusian government forced the plane to redirect to Minsk where they were detained. The move was immediately met with widespread condemnation from all around the world and led to calls for sanctions against the country. Parliament President David Sassoli said: “The events in Belarus, with the hijacking of a civil plane to arrest opponents of the regime, require a leap forward in our response in both strength and speed.” Parliament and other EU institutions are calling for the immediate release of Protasevich and urge everyone to speak up about this blatant breach of fundamental rights. What you could do to help get Roman Protasevich released The abuse of human rights can only thrive in silence. Help create a noise by speaking up for Protasevic and Sapega who are currently being silenced and detained. What you could do online: • Use the hashtag #FreeRomanProtasevich and #FreeSofiaSapega on Twitter and other platforms • Help us to spread the message by sharing this article and our posts on social media, such as our tweet You could come up with your own ways to protest.
[Show full text]
Belarus INDIVIDUALS
CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK Last Updated:12/08/2021 Status: Asset Freeze Targets REGIME: Belarus INDIVIDUALS 1. Name 6: ALIASHKEVICH 1: ALIAKSANDR 2: MIKHAILAVICH 3: n/a 4: n/a 5: n/a. a.k.a: ALESHKEVICH, Alexander, Mikhailovich Position: (1) First Deputy Head of the District Department of Internal Affairs in Moskovski District, Minsk (2) Head of Criminal Police Other Information: (UK Sanctions List Ref):BEL0016 Date designated on UK Sanctions List: 31/12/2020 (UK Statement of Reasons):In Aliaksandr Aliashkevich’s position as First Deputy Head of the District Department of Internal Affairs in Moskovski/Moscow District of the city of Minsk and Head of Criminal Police, he is responsible for the repression and intimidation campaign in that district against peaceful protesters in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, in particular arbitrary arrests, excessive use of force and ill‐treatment, including torture. (Gender):Male Listed on: 05/10/2020 Last Updated: 31/12/2020 Group ID: 13938. 2. Name 6: ASTREIKA 1: ALIAKSANDR 2: VIACHASLAVAVICH 3: n/a 4: n/a 5: n/a. Title: Major-General Of Militia (Police Force) DOB: 22/12/1971. POB: Kapyl, Former USSR Currently Belarus a.k.a: ASTREIKO, Alexander, Viacheslavovich Nationality: Belarusian Position: Head of the Department of Internal Affairs of Brest Oblast Executive Committee Other Information: (UK Sanctions List Ref):BEL0021 Date designated on UK Sanctions List: 31/12/2020 (UK Statement of Reasons):Aloaksandr Astreika is Head of the Department of Internal Affairs of Brest Oblast Executive Committee and Major General of Police.
[Show full text]