Human Rights and Civil Society in Belarus
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Human Rights and Civil Society in Belarus Accompanying booklet to the joint exhibition of: Kindly supported by: Contents Human Rights and Civil Society in Belarus nvolvement in civil society in Belarus often requires substantial courage. Those Iwho are involved in civil society face intimidation, harassment and persecution. What is happening in this country, dominated by Alexander Lukaschenko since 1994, and often called „the last dictatorship in Europe“? Under which conditions Civil society under pressure do the civil society and democratic opposition exist? What is the situation con- 4 cerning human rights? In this exhibition booklet we try to give answers to these questions and show the repression the Belarusian civil society is facing. Belarus after the presidential elections on 19th December 2010 is a country in which peaceful demonstrators are brutally beaten by the police and tortured by the KGB. A country of show trials, where presidential candidates and opponents of the regime are sentenced to imprisonment and work camps for many years. It is also a country in which people are involved in civil movements and human rights groups, despite all difficulties and perils they face. The Belarusian civil society’s Political prisoners in Belarus response to the detention of around 700 people, after the violent breaking up of 14 a demonstration on election night, demonstrated an impressive level of solidarity with the detained. Large heaps of clothes, food and toiletries were collected to help the prisoners. The initiators of this aid campaign were honoured with the name „heroes of the civil society“ by the independent Belarusian NGO federation in February 2011. We should not be indifferent to what happens in Belarus, a country in the heart of Europe. Our response to these violations of human rights has to be clear: we support the victims of governmental repression and persecution, and campaign with all our strength for the release of the prisoners of conscience in Belarus. International support for the respect of Those responsible for torture and human right violations should not exempted human rights 19 from punishment. Please support our work for the respect of human rights in Belarus by getting involved directly or through a donation. The people in Belarus hope that we will not look the other way but that we will act. 2 3 A draft blows through a wide gap in Home“, several city administrations have The Belarus Free Theatre is the only free security, or only travel to Belarus incog- the window, the light in the hallway resumed the maintenance of hallways, theatre group in Belarus. It was founded nito. 2010 stopped working long ago, and in front set up bus stops, and repaved streets. in 2005 by the human rights activist and 2007 © Our Home of the house is a mix of cracked asphalt journalist Natalia Koliada, her partner, There is broad international support © Andrei Liankevich and muddy footpath. Conditions such as In the meantime, „Our Home“ is now ac- the author Nikolai Khalezin and the pro- from artists, including the British A member of the grass-roots these are common in houses in Belaru- tive in 15 cities and, in addition to local ducer Vladimier Shcherban. The artist dramatist and screenplay writer Tom A secret performance of the movement Our Home (Nascha sian cities despite the residents being problems in the housing industry, advo- group states that “only after the end of Stoppard, the Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, Belarus Free Theatre, which Dom) spreaded flyers regularly required to pay for their main- cates for individuals against police bru- the ruling dictatorship” will they cease the actors Jude Law and Kevin Spacey as is not permitted by the (Belarus, 2010) tenance. tality and political repression. their work. The members of the Belarus well as the former Czech president and government (Minsk, 2007) (Author: Federation for Social Defence, Bund Free Theatre experience heavy repres- dissident Vaclav Havel. Because of this issue, in 2005 activists für Soziale Verteidigung (BSV)) sion in their country, all its actors are of- launched a civic campaign, which helps ficially banned from the profession and residents to enforce their right to the are not allowed to work in public thea- maintenance and cleaning of hallways tres. They live and work underground, by the municipal housing companies. constantly in danger of arrest. The campaign mainly uses leaflets All productions are held in a run-down which „Our Home“ distributes regularly house near the Belarusian capital Minsk. to more than 150,000 households, pro- After changing the performance loca- vides legal assistance to citizens and tions constantly, from cafes to private initiatives such as collecting signatures flats or even in the open air in remote for collective complaints and collective woods, all shows are now held in this redresses against local authorities. house, where the omnipresent taboo of discussing social conflicts in Belarus is Furthermore „Our Home“ has a success defied. Due to the repressive wave that rate of about 40% in court cases, thereby has shaken the country since Dec 19th protecting fellow campaigners against 2010, most members of the theatre stay 4 penalties. Under pressure from „Our outside Belarus for reasons of their own 5 As yet, in Belarus there is no alterna- Unfortunately, the debating of the draft Because of article 193.1 of the Belar- The Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs tive civilian service for young men who law is restricted to a government work- usian criminal code membership in, or of Belarus has initiated a campaign 2010 refuse military service on grounds of ing group, thus excluding the differ- activity connected to, an unregistered called “Stop 193.1”. In this campaign, 2009 © ags.by conscience. By obliging young men to do ent Belarusian NGOs from the process. organization can be prosecuted with Belarusian, as well as international © Mikola and Yulia Bianko, military service without providing any Therefore, the NGOs concerned drew up up to 2 years of imprisonment. Since organizations, are demanding the abo- Assembly of Belarusian NGOs Activists in the campaign for alternative, Belarus violates the human their own draft law on alternative civilian its implementation in 2006, 17 people lition of article 193.1 – in one case in the introduction of alternative right of freedom of conscience. Article 57 service. In March 2010, Ivan Mikhailau have been prosecuted on the grounds a street action, dressed as members of Dressed up as Santa Claus, civilian service in Belarus of the Belarusian constitution provides was released from prison a few days of article 193.1. For their involvement the unregistered organization of Santa activists ask for the abolition inform soldiers on their right to for a civilian service since 2001 – how- earlier than expected. Dzmitry Smyk’s in unregistered organizations, dozens Clauses… of criminal law article 193.1 refuse military service ever a specific law on civilian service has sentence was also lifted. Mikhailau and of members of Belarusian civil society (Minsk, October 2009) (Minsk, May 2010). yet to be introduced. Smyk can still be called up for military have been officially summoned before service, however. In June 2010, Yauhien the public prosecutor – the next step After the conviction of Dzmitry Smyk Yakavenka, who asked the administra- would be conviction. in November 2009, and Ivan Mikhailau tion for an alternative to military service, in February 2010 due to conscientious was condemned to one year of prison on Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) objection, Libereco and the Bund für So- probation, but received an amnesty on come under great pressure from Belar- ziale Verteidigung (Federation for Social July 23rd, 2010. Nevertheless, he is still usian state officials. Many of them have Defence, BSV), as well as other European obliged to do military service.. been banned, or have attempted for many NGOs, started the campaign “for an alter- years in vain to receive official permissi- native civilian service in Belarus” (AGS), Libereco and the BSV are calling upon on and registration. The registration of calling for the release of Mikhailau and the Belarusian government to quickly NGOs is often denied on flimsy grounds, the introduction of a civilian service in establish a law for civilian service, and obviously in order to keep civil society Belarus. The campaign has increased to include Belarusian NGOs in the law- under direct control. Those in power do the political pressure for change, and making process. Everyone should have not want to see it threatened by the acti- on 18th February 2010 saw its first suc- the right to refuse military service as vities of critical citizens. As a result, many cess when president Lukashenka finally conscientious objectors and to do civil- Belarusians live with the permanent th- ordered the creation of a law on civilian ian service instead. reat of prosecution, because of their in- 6 service. volvement in unregistered organizations. 7 All over the world, people have been this action was supposed to commemo- 18 people were detained on suspicion gathering in so-called “flash mobs”. The- rate and reenact the nationally famous of the attack on the Russian embas- 2009 se are short, seemingly spontaneous historical battle at Grunwald 600 years sy in Minsk, Belarus (August 30, 2010). 2010 © Jura Sidun, Generation.by gatherings of people in public or semi- before, when the Grandlithuanian forces These were anarchists and activists for © Maksim Sarychau public places. The participants usually beat the knights of the German Order. social and environmental initiatives. Young people highlight the don’t know each other but do quite un- In Belarus, holding people in detention In 2010, social activist Barys absence of freedom of assembly usual things. without charge for more than three days Ashchepkau was arbitrarily with a public pillow fight – is unlawful, so every 72 hours they were arrested for six days.